Written answers

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

Department of Justice and Equality

Racial Profiling

Photo of Gino KennyGino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on racial profiling used by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to identify persons it believes to be in the country illegally; the irresponsible reporting of these cases in the media and the impact it has on the lives and work of Irish nationals who fit the profiling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40271/18]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have been assured by An Garda Síochána that they are acutely aware that migration should be managed in a way which protects human rights, recognising relevant constitutional and international obligations in this area. In this regard, I have been advised that relevant personnel within An Garda Síochána and Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), in particular, are provided clear instruction to not engage in racial profiling, in the course of fulfilling immigration-related duties.

The GNIB was established in May 2000 to provide an effective, organisational, structure to support the enforcement of Immigration policy, which rests with An Garda Síochána. The Bureau is responsible for immigration controls at points of entry into the State, a role which, in recent times, has been shared at Dublin Airport with the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS). Other immigration-related functions undertaken by GNIB include the removal of persons who have been refused permission to land in the State; enforcement of Deportation, Removal and Transit Orders; the provision of a non-national registration service outside of Dublin & maintenance of an associated database; and the implementation of effective strategies to combat smuggling of illegal immigrants.

The recently published Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report comprehensively addresses issues regarding the role and respect for human rights in the work of An Garda Síochána. It recommends that An Garda Síochána should have a human rights strategy and a human rights unit within the organisation to develop, implement and monitor the strategy. The importance of human rights training is also addressed in the report.

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