Joint Committee on Justice to discuss Minorities Engaging with the Justice System

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House will hear from representatives of the Mental Health Commission, the Irish Traveller Movement, LGBT Ireland and AkiDwA.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy James Lawless said: “Submissions received by the Committee highlighted several issues affecting how minorities engage with the Justice System. These included the need for improved legal aid for minority groups, the need for cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and anti-racism training for those interacting with minority groups, and suggestions for how to protect vulnerable groups from hate crime and hate speech. The Committee now looks forward to examining these and related matters in more depth with our stakeholders.”

The Joint Committee on Justice has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 1 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.