Mr. Drew Harris:

One only has to walk around Dublin city centre to see that it is visibly an increasingly diverse place. In time, An Garda Síochána should reflect that diversity of the society we are charged with policing. As for gender in the first case, we have good gender representation in the organisation but our representation of visible ethnic minorities is somewhat lower. That is an area on which we will have to work. There is a question of how we do that outreach. People know people within An Garda Síochána, whether they are friends, fathers of friends or relations, and get to know policing through those sorts of associations. We are a bit of a mystery for others. We have to reach out and explain what we are about. We have to explain that we are a good employer and that if one works for us, no matter what the role is, one has a good employer, can have a career and there are options for advancement and learning development along with the rewards of public service. We as an employer have to promote the organisation and try to reach people who had not hitherto thought of a career in An Garda Síochána.