Are we so different? Migrants and the Policy Complaints Process in Ireland.

TII Seminar with Garda Ombudsman Commission

The Garda Ombudsman Commission has noted the important content of Trinity’s
Immigration Initiative, particularly how its own work falls within the Trinity
Immigration Initiative research theme of National Policy Impacts. To that end,
the TII presents, as part of its seminar series, Ms. Carmel Foley, Garda
Siochana Ombudsman Commissioner on Friday, 16th January, 2009, 12.30-14.00 in
the IIIS Seminar Room C6.002, Arts Building, TCD. The title of the seminar is:
Are we so different? Migrants and the Policy Complaints Process in Ireland.

The GSOC has found that the incidence of non-Irish nationals
making complaints to it is consistently higher than the most recent
Census estimate of non-Irish nationals within the general population. The
Commission believes that this scenario both presents it with a real service
delivery challenge as well as highlighting possible issues of policing bias
that have been well documented in European Union jurisdictions other than
Ireland. This seminar will provide insights to the work of the GSOC and request
insight from those in attendance how the GSCO can best meet
its statutory obligations under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, that is, providing
an effective, efficient and independent oversight mechanism that secures public
confidence.