Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to a report submitted to the United Nations by an organisation (details supplied) highlighting the case of a person who was killed by gardaí, the unacceptable delays in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission investigation into their death and recommending that the investigation include consideration of issues of race and discrimination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35956/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I want to once again extend my sympathies to the family concerned on the tragic death of their son and brother.

I am aware of the reports submitted to the United Nations (UN) as part of Ireland's Fifth Periodic Examination under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

As the Deputy will know, for each UN Covenant or Convention, States Parties are obliged to submit periodic reports to specialised committees of the UN, known as the human rights treaty monitoring bodies, on the progress made in implementing the treaty domestically.

Civil society plays an important role in this process and I welcome the engagement of the organisations, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), that submitted reports on the current examination under the ICCPR to the UN Human Rights Committee, which will be examining civil and political rights in Ireland from this week. Officials from my Department are part of Ireland’s delegation to the UN offices in Geneva contributing to this process and will be available to speak to questions raised at the review.

As the Deputy will be aware, the shooting of Mr. George Nkencho is being fully investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), which is the independent statutory body established to investigate such incidents. This is the case with every incident involving the Gardaí that results in the death or serious harm of a person. I understand this investigation is ongoing.

I am further advised that legal proceedings have recently been initiated against the State in this case and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.