John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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891. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken to prohibit attacks on minority communities; and the progress that has been made in relation to the vicious and unprovoked attack on an Indian person in Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24. [48425/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Any attack on innocent members of the public is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics including race are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by all right-thinking people.

While it is not within my remit, as Minister for Justice, to intervene in investigative matters dealt with by An Garda Síochána, I want to assure you that I am determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and protect vulnerable communities.

Our laws have recently been amended by the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 to ensure any attack motivated by hate will, on conviction, result in increased sentencing parameters for the sentencing judge so there are severe consequences for the perpetrators of these attacks.

I have met with leaders in the Indian community to discuss the recent attacks and their concerns for the safety of their communities. I have also discussed these attacks with the Garda Commissioner and I have been assured that all incidents are being investigated and that An Garda Síochána treats hate crime very seriously.

Every hate crime reported to An Garda Síochána is professionally investigated and victims supported through the criminal justice process. I encourage any victim of any crime to report this to An Garda Síochána including any indication that the crime may have a hate motivation.

The Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) operates under the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau. As a national office, GNDIU is responsible for monitoring, advising and co-ordinating on all aspects of diversity and integration from an external perspective. The GNDIU train, develop and support a network of more than 530 Garda Diversity Officers around Ireland to actively engage with and attend to the concerns of minority and diverse communities, providing reassurance, building trust and extending the accessibility of the Garda service.

What I find most concerning about recent attacks is that the majority appear to have been carried out by young people. I have discussed this particular aspect of recent attacks with the Garda Commissioner and have been informed that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers are engaging with the respective communities and youth groups on the matter. Importantly, Senior Investigating Officers are assigned to investigate all reported incidents, so I hope to see progress on those investigations soon.

The National Action Plan against Racism is being implemented over the five-year period 2023-2027. It is intended that the actions will have a significant positive impact on all minority ethnic communities and faith-based groups, including the Indian community, in Ireland.

We have prioritised community engagement and involved stakeholders in shaping the Migration and Integration Strategy, which will be published in 2026. This outlines how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunities facing our society and economy over the next decade.