Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
317. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase cultural diversity in the membership of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30668/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter.
I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that he recognises the importance of recruiting into An Garda Síochána from a wide cross section of the population so that the organisation provides a policing service that reflects the growing diversity of Irish society. To support this a concerted effort is being made to encourage women and minority communities to consider a career in An Garda Síochána. Recent recruitment campaigns have made a significant effort through on-line videos and other media to attract candidates from minority communities and diverse social groups. In the most recent recruitment campaign a series of videos and text were produced in multiple languages including English, Irish, French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic. They were published on the Garda Facebook page which has more than 180,000 followers.
In relation to the proportion of women members in An Garda Síochána I am informed that the total number as of the 31 May 2018, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is approximately 3,600 or close to 27% of the total strength. This compares favourably with the number on 31 December 2008 which was approximately 3,100 or 22% of the total strength. This is broadly in line with other police services in England and Wales.
The Commissioner’s Policing Plan 2018 commits to the development of a positive action plan to attract and recruit applicants from minority and diverse groups and to review barriers or disincentives to entry to An Garda Síochána and to examine ways in which applications from diverse minority communities for entry into An Garda Síochána can be increased. In that regard, An Garda Síochána are in the process of developing a strategy to further embed the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion within the organisation.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland established by the Government is, as part of its terms of reference examining the composition, recruitment and training of personnel to ensure that the personnel in the organisation reflect the diversity of Irish society. The Commission is due to report in September 2018.
