Mr. Padraic Jones:

I thank the Senator for her comments about the Special Olympics. I have been one of those participants in the law enforcement torch run previously. Certainly one of the highlights of my career, even though I did not get into Croke Park, was seeing the Special Olympics World Games being held in Croke Park in 2003. At an operational level, I have been very supportive of Special Olympics Ireland throughout my career by ensuring we partake in the torch run whenever it comes around, and I think it is coming again soon. Assistant Commissioner Hilman represents An Garda Síochána in respect of the law enforcement torch run and has engaged very recently with other police services to forge good relationships and making sure we can get around the country again and get to meet people. The torch run is a huge opportunity for engagement with people, in the right sense, and likewise for people to engage with us in a very positive way. I will convey the comments back to Assistant Commissioner Hilman.

On data being available to JPCs, we publish our hate crime data every year. We give an overview and break it down per county if not per division. Those details are publicly available and JPCs can access them as readily as a person who is sitting at home this afternoon.

With the advent of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, and I expect that commencement will take place sometime this year, JPCs will cease to exist. At some stage JPCs will be replaced by community safety partnerships. Again, that is a good opportunity for those partners to assist us in terms of how we deliver policing services.