The slow progress of building confidence and trust between the Garda and ethnic and religious minority communities in Ireland was brought to light at the diversity workshop in Dublin Castle earlier this month. “My daughter told me one day that she wanted to be a Garda [officer] but the next day she said she didn’t want to be one anymore because there are no black gardaí,” said one Nigerian participant during an open discussion, demonstrating the need for integration in Ireland to be reciprocal.
The conference called on both native Irish and the Government to make an effort to understand and respect the different cultures present within contemporary Irish society.
Many participants encouraged the Government to make the policing system open itself up more to the idea of a police force that not only tolerates but also reflects, both visually and ideologically, the traditions of different cultures.
“We need to make sure that people feel welcome and make sure they aren’t treated a second-class citizens,” said Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague in his welcoming remarks.
By the same token, panellist Waheed Mudah, a solicitor who has lived and practised in Ireland for 11 years, encouraged participants to take it upon themselves to learn about what they should be entitled to in a just legal system.
“There is a need for more education among ourselves, to see the problems, bring them to light, and resolve them,” he said.
Mudah also shared his personal stories of facing discrimination while working with the Garda, expressing the disconnection between different components of the policing and justice sectors.
Sheikh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, founder and imam of the Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre in Dublin, spoke in depth on the difference between multiculturalism and interculturalism and the challenges faced by minority groups in drawing the attention of the Government.
“The biggest challenge is trying to penetrate Government organisations and bodies and make them understand how important it is to work with us,” he said, adding that overall he was “very positive” of the future.
Since April 2000, the Garda Racial, Intercultural and Diversity Office has made some headway in strengthening the relationships with minority communities, and currently have a compliment of 300 ethnic liaison officers.
Their primary job is to reach out to community leaders and to “understand the vulnerabilities of ethnic minorities”, according to Sgt David McInerney, head of the office.
Speaking from the perspective of his colleagues, Sgt McInerney said that most officers do not have direct experience working with minority communities and understanding their circumstances.
“But I would say that is the most important role a police officer has,” he said, “If you cannot respect others, you will fail.”
In response, some participants suggested that while progress has been made in the last decade, the idea of an ethnic liaison officer should not be contained within one office. Others said that the distance between the community and gardaí could be better bridged through more information and education via different media outlets.
Chinedu Onyejelem, editor of Metro Éireann, said “pressure needs to be put on Garda Commissioner to ensure that more members of the force receive adequate training in cultural diversity, use of language and terminology from non members of the organisation.”
He also called on other groups, such as the LGBT and Traveller communities and the wider Irish society, to come out in support of the positive changes that An Garda Síochána has made.
Amanda Sawit is a journalism student from the United States and is currently an intern at Metro Éireann.
