Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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303. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to an increase in violent attacks in Dublin city centre on women, members of the LBGTQI+ community, and other minority groups; and if she has liaised with the Garda Commissioner or local Garda stations to develop plans to ensure the city’s safety. [46553/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has become a more diverse and welcoming country in recent decades.

I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority of people who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. These types of attacks cannot, and will not, be tolerated.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Assistant Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and all members of An Garda Síochána in the DMR remain conscious and alert to any criminal offences which may be perceived by the victims or any other people to, in whole or in part, be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on actual or perceived age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender. All Hate Crime Investigations have a Garda Diversity Officer (GDO) assigned.

Support is available to and provided to victims of domestic abuse, including members of the LGBTQ+ community. Domestic Abuse Coordinator Teams (DACT) are in place in each District in the DMR and case managers are appointed to maintain appropriate contact with the injured party, including those who are members of the of LGBTQ+ community.

I am further informed that there are 110 Garda Diversity Officers trained in the DMR and allocated across each of the six Garda Divisions. The 34 of these trained GDOs in the DMR North Central and South Central Divisions, together with plans to train additional members represents An Garda Síochána’s commitment in the DMR to continue to deliver the necessary support and specialist assistance to members of the LGBTQ+ community. All Gardaí, including GDOs undertake online Hate Crime training, which included significant input from LGBTQ+ organizations and representatives in creating same.

Garda management in the DMR continue to fully optimize all available Garda resources to ensure that there is a sustained overt and covert Garda presence in Dublin City Centre to reduce opportunities for anti-social behaviour, public order offences and assaults from happening. This is supported through vital Operations initiated in the city by Assistant Commissioner, DMR aimed at safeguarding vulnerable persons, such as, Operation Citizen, and Operation Saul, to name a few.

As outlined, there is ongoing training that will increase members' understanding and will enhance the Garda service being delivered to victims of crime including members of the LBGTQ+ community. The GDO network continues to expand and develop across the DMR improving accessibility of the Garda Service to minority, diverse and hard to reach communities.

Separately, as the Deputy will be aware, we are currently developing legislation which will update existing laws on incitement to hatred and introduce hate crime laws for the first time.

A new Bill which is expected to be published in the coming weeks, will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences – ie hate crimes - where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic.

The Bill will also strengthen the law around incitement to hatred - or hate speech – by reflecting the current context more accurately; including online hateful content. Offences will include inciting hatred against a person or persons because they are associated with a protected characteristic, and also dissemination or distribution of material inciting hatred.

The protected characteristics that underpin the new legislation are race; colour; nationality; religion, ethnic or national origin; sexual orientation; gender (including gender expression or gender identify); and disability.

Development of this legislation follows a comprehensive consultation process that began in 2019 and included public events across Ireland, along with surveys, consultation and engagement with people with lived experience of the impact of hate speech and hate crime.

I met with LGBTQ+ organisations in recent months to update them on progress in developing the Bill and to ensure that their concerns inform the final drafting process.

The text of the new legislation is currently in the final stages of drafting, and it is expected to go to Government for approval in the coming weeks.