Racial Profiling

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2013

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Ceisteanna (300, 302)

John Halligan

Ceist:

300. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way racial profiling is used in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/13]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

302. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will explain the use of racial profiling in the work of the Garda and Irish National Immigration Service and other sections of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47715/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 302 together.

My Department does not engage in any form of discriminatory ethnic or racial profiling. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda Síochána does not engage in discriminatory ethnic or racial profiling, and specifically that it does not engage in data gathering or data mining based upon discriminatory profiling in respect of race, colour, language, religion, nationality, national or ethnic origin, ethnicity or membership of the traveller community. If the Deputy has any specific concerns in mind I would be happy to look into them.

Question No. 301 answered with Question No. 299.

Question No. 302 answered with Question No. 300.