Mr. Damien Walshe:

Most have alluded to the Ionann management report in 2004. As part of that human rights audit, the researchers stated: "Officers and members expressed negative views about some communities, in particular Travellers, and the Nigerian community," and "allegations about levels of criminality among the Traveller and the Nigerian communities were made at every level of those taking part in this survey, with very little ... evidence provided to substantiate them". The chapter on human rights and operational policing concluded that "on the basis of this audit it seems clear that there is institutional racism within An Garda Síochána in its dealings with certain groups in the community and in the absence of organisational structures which would identify and deal with what is a very fundamental abuse of human rights." What we were trying to bring to this is that, if there is to be an independent Garda authority, it requires some input from Travellers to restore that confidence. The report was published in 2004. There is a need for an ongoing audit of human rights practices within An Garda Síochána and it needs that independent oversight.

There has been significant work since then at a local level and it has restored a considerable amount of trust. That has been eroded again through the allegations around PULSE and potential institutional racism. That needs to be independently addressed as a matter of urgency.

In the future, the Garda authority, given the historical lack of a relationship between the Garda and Travellers and other minority ethnic groups, will require representation from communities such as the Traveller or Roma communities to direct any future human rights audits of the police force.