Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to resolve the potential conflict of interest that arises for Garda ethnic minority liaison officers who are also members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau. [5103/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the Garda Commissioner authorised the appointment of liaison officers to ethnic minorities in divisions where the need was identified. The divisional officer assessed the ethnic issue in each division and, in consultation with the district officers, appointed liaison officers according to the need identified. Garda liaison officers were appointed in almost every Garda district.

The role of the ethnic liaison officers is to: liaise with the leaders of ethnic communities; inform and assure the ethnic communities of Garda services and protection. Some of the gardaí appointed as ethnic liaison officers also act as immigration officers. This work is in conjunction with other roles and tasks assigned by district and divisional officers and the Garda authorities do not consider that a conflict of interest arises where gardaí appointed as ethnic liaison officers also act as immigration officers.

Training was provided for 60 ethnic liaison officers during 2004. Seminars on the role of ethnic liaison officers took place throughout the country at regional level. The Garda personnel attending both training and seminars included those on immigration duties.