The Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, TD has answered Dáil Questions on the recent cases of children being removed from their families in the Roma Community and racial profiling... Child Protection Issues 299. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality Information the criminal concerns the Garda had, as distinct from child protection concerns, in the case of the seven year old child taken from a Roma family in Tallaght; if it is criminal concerns that explains the removal of the child from the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47712/13] 301. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality Information on Alan Shatter in the case of the seven year old child taken from a Roma family in Tallaght, if the Garda contacted the Health Service Executive child protection social worker prior to acting and removing the child from the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47714/13] Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 301 together. As the Deputies are aware, I requested the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána to provide me with a full report in relation to this and another related case. I have now received these Reports. I have already indicated my intention to refer these reports to the Ombudsman for Children in the context of my proposal to appoint her in accordance with section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended by section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007) to conduct an inquiry into these matter. The Deputies will appreciate that, in circumstances where it is proposed to establish an independent inquiry into these matters, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this time. Racial Profiling 300. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality Information on Alan Shatter the way racial profiling is used in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/13] 302. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter if he will explain the use of racial profiling in the work of the Garda and Irish National Immigration Service and other sections of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47715/13] Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 302 together. My Department does not engage in any form of discriminatory ethnic or racial profiling. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the Garda Síochána does not engage in discriminatory ethnic or racial profiling, and specifically that it does not engage in data gathering or data mining based upon discriminatory profiling in respect of race, colour, language, religion, nationality, national or ethnic origin, ethnicity or membership of the traveller community. If the Deputy has any specific concerns in mind I would be happy to look into them.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:05:31 +0000
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