Mr. Séamus Beirne:

I thank the Deputy. Measuring the impact of all this training can be difficult. It has been said that it is about changing a culture. There is a certain culture in Ireland and a prison is a microcosm of the country. Changing a culture takes a while. Is it working? All we can do is look at the number of complaints made, notwithstanding what was said earlier, from prisoners and staff. We take any allegations of racism or negative attitudes towards Travellers seriously. Prisoners go through the P19 process, which is a punishment in the prison. Staff cases would be investigated on a case-by-case basis and treated seriously. It would depend on the level of seriousness and I cannot say what would happen. We will monitor it. Covid has put a stall on this, but we intended doing a survey of staff and prisoners on things related to equality, diversity and inclusion. We intend to do that and to keep monitoring attitudes, which will hopefully show what the impact is. It is a secondary measure, I suppose. You can do all the training in the world, but if people do not accept it, what can you do? We have to look at the outcomes.

What more can be done? I suppose more can be done to raise awareness. I spoke with our education colleagues previously. I intend to do an awareness-raising of Traveller culture, based on what the Department of Education is doing on its side. That is something positive going forward.