Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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344. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission produces information literature translated into various languages in order that persons from diverse ethnic backgrounds can understand their rights in this regard and in order that they can fully engage with GSOC should they need to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27370/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), that facilities are provided for customers to interact with the Commission in the language of their choice, including Irish. Arrangements are made for the provision of interpreters where necessary.

GSOC provides an online complaint form in several different languages allowing members of the public to make a complaint in a language other than English. The form is currently available in English, Irish, French, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Tagalog Language (Philippines), Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese and contains specific information on the process of submitting a complaint to GSOC.

I am further informed that, if the form is not available in a preferred language, GSOC offers customers a choice of methods to initiate contact, e.g. email, letter, telephone or in person. GSOC can provide translation, interpretation or other services required to assist communication between GSOC and the person about the complaints process and to enable GSOC to fully engage with its complainants at all stages throughout the complaints process.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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345. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the recruitment of members of An Garda Síochána from diverse ethnic backgrounds including Traveller, Roma, black Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27371/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, contains a commitment to increase the diversity within An Garda Síochána prioritising the identification and removal of barriers to recruiting and retaining people from diverse and minority background. This work is being taken forward as part of An Garda Síochána's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy. As the Deputy will be aware, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff.

My Department's Justice Plan 2021 commits to supporting the EDI Strategy to ensure the organisation can attract, retain and develop a diverse and inclusive workforce, including preparation of a diversity recruitment roadmap. This roadmap will be informed by current work in An Garda Síochána to identify key challenges related to the recruitment and retention of individuals from minority backgrounds.

The EDI Strategy sets out 11 strategic goals to be met by the end of 2021 to increase equality, diversity and inclusion within the organisation, including the establishment of governance structures to ensure the strategy’s goals are met. An EDI Leadership Council, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Strategy, Governance and Performance and colleagues from across the public sector, including my Department, and academia has been established to oversee this work including addressing the issue of greater diversity in recruitment within the Gardaí. The EDI Strategy also provides for the establishment of an Internship Programme for both school leavers and graduates. The aim of this Programme is to attract graduates and school leavers from communities that have been traditionally under-represented within An Garda Síochána.

In order to support the objective of attracting, developing and retaining individuals of talent and representation from minority and diverse communities, the Garda National Diversity and Inclusion Unit (GNDIU), in conjunction with Garda Human Resources Equality Diversity and Inclusion Section, are actively engaging with representatives of minority groups.