There will be "huge public confidence" in the Garda Ombudsman Commission when its board is announced in the coming weeks, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today.
Speaking before the unveiling of a new logo for the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR), Mr McDowell rejected criticism of the way the three-person commission is being appointed.
The Irish Timesreported at the weekend that Mr Justice Kevin Haugh is expected to accept an invitation from Mr McDowell to chair the commission.
The leak was condemned by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. The Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe said the appointment process should be transparent to instil public confidence.
But Mr McDowell reminded critics that both houses of the Oireachtas must endorse the appointments.
"I have no doubt that the full team of the Ombudsman Commission will have very widespread support and that it will be seen to be a balanced and proper team when it's put in place.
"I am very, very confident there will be huge public confidence in Garda Ombudsman Commission when its proposed membership is announced."
In his speech at the NPAR unveiling, Mr McDowell said the process of recruiting people from minority communities to the Garda was continuing and that a workshop for prospective applicants would be held by the Public Appointments Service tomorrow.
He said the process of assimilating immigrants and their culture was going "relatively well" but that there were a range of challenges.
"We have to work to build inclusive communities - not ghettos. . . . The scope of the intercultural framework of the action plan emphasising the objectives of protection, inclusion, provision, recognition and participation will serve to comprehensively address the key issues in facilitating the development of a more diverse Ireland."
The Minister declined to comment on a report in today's Irish Independentthat said a school in Cabra, north Dublin, is being investigated over claims it is devoting too much time to Muslim teaching at the expense of the official curriculum.
The report said Minister for Education Mary Hanafin was "extremely concerned" about practices at the North Dublin Muslim National School Project. The report also claimed there were concerns that the state-funded school could become a focus for religious extremism.
Mr McDowell said the matter was one for the Department of Education.
