Garda diversity

An Garda Síochána are correct that imbalances in recruitment will, over time, produce an unbalanced police force attempting to serve an increasingly diverse community.

They can draw from the Northern Ireland experience, where strenuous efforts, including a decade of a controversial 50-50 selection policy introduced by the Patten Commission, contributed to a greater proportionality, but not parity, between Catholics and Protestants in the PSNI.

They can also look to the UK where 14% of the population is from black and ethnic minorities but the ratio of police is 5%. In cities such as London the figures are 55% and 10% respectively.