Garda college hosts intercultural day

The Garda College will today host an intercultural day for minority communities in Ireland.

The event is being staged to raise awareness among new recruits of the country’s diversity.

Minority groups have been asked to set up stalls and information points on the campus in Templemore, Co Tipperary.

“The diversity aspect to this event and future Garda strategy refers not just to ethnic or international diversity, but also includes wider diverse/minority considerations, such as disability, age, sexual orientation and membership of the traveller community ,” a Garda spokesman said.

“This particular event is timely as 2008 has been designated the ’European Year of Intercultural Dialogue’ and the Garda Síochána are due to launch their Diversity Strategy & Implementation Plan later this year.”

Some of the groups attending include Access Ireland, Age Action Ireland, National Consultative Committee on Racism & Interculturalism, Sports Against Racism in Ireland, National Action Plan Against Racism, Equality Authority, Immigrant Council Of Ireland, Chinese Information Centre and the Irish Traveller Movement.