Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the Irish Travellers’ Access to Justice Launch Landmark Report published recently by the University of Limerick that found that Travellers’ trust in the Irish criminal justice system is extremely low and that fears of wrongful arrest, excessive use of force, wrongful conviction, disproportionately high sentences and wrongful imprisonment frame the way that Travellers engage with and experience the criminal justice system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35955/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The recently published Irish Travellers Access to Justice Report is a welcome and valuable body of research.

The Department’s mission is for a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland and a justice system that works for all. This report will be a valuable contribution to the evidence base available to inform future policy development in this regard.

While it is clear that there is more work to be done, significant work is underway across the justice sector to develop better relationships with the Traveller community.

In particular, An Garda Síochána is committed to providing a human-rights focused policing service that protects the rights of all people they come into contact with. This is at the heart of the Garda Code of Ethics and the Garda Decision Making Model, and has been spoken about repeatedly by Commissioner Harris.

The Garda Commissioner has put a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland. An Garda Síochána have demonstrated this in recent years through the establishment of the Garda National Diversity & Integration Unit (GNDIU), publication of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy Statement and Action Plan.

Gardaí have made strides in developing good relationships with the Traveller Community and its representative bodies through initiatives such as the establishment of a Garda-Traveller Advisory Group, Garda-Traveller Dialogue Days, and Traveller representative groups assisting in providing training for Garda recruits and Garda members.

Furthermore, it is important that we ensure that police powers are exercised in a consistent and unbiased way and that marginalised individuals and groups are not disproportionately impacted. The An Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill will address the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland’s recommendation that - for the purposes of clarity and transparency - police powers of search, arrest and detention should be codified and supported by statutory codes of practice. This is supported by relevant training to ensure members have the personal and professional expertise to proactively police Ireland's diverse community.

I would also point to the important role of the Judicial Council in ensuring a high level of public confidence in, and maintaining, the acknowledged high standards of excellence of, our judiciary. The Judicial Studies Committee has been established to deliver regular judicial training, including on judicial conduct and ethics, and on unconscious bias and vulnerable witnesses.

In conclusion, the report will be considered across the justice sector with a view to taking all possible steps to improve service delivery and outcomes to our Travelling Community.