Ireland

In 2024, Ireland continued implementing the country's National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy (2024–2028), which aims to ensure appropriate support to LGBTI+ victims of crime. The Strategy requires An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice system to respond proactively and effectively to ensure the safety of LGBTIQ+ people, and to put in place enforcement mechanisms to challenge occurrences of hate crime.

In parallel, the National Action Plan against Racism (2023-2027) was developed in collaboration with stakeholders, leading minority ethnic representative organizations, and academic experts. One of the objectives of the plan is to enable third-party and online reporting of racist incidents among all public services. An Garda Síochána has both these mechanisms in place to facilitate the reporting of hate crime.

In 2024, Ireland also launched its National Traveller Roma and Integration Strategy (2024-2028), a key goal of which is to tackle racism and discrimination. Members of the Roma and Traveller communities contributed to the Strategy's objectives and commitments, including that members of the Traveller and Roma communities will be supported in reporting racist crimes. At a National level, An Garda Síochána engages with the Garda Traveller and Roma Advisory Group to improve community support and access to Justice. Garda Diversity Officers engage with Traveller and Roma representative groups in local communities.

During 2024, the Garda Traveller and Roma Advisory Group (GTRAG) continued to meet to enhance engagement and build trust in order to facilitate the reporting of hate crime. The group examined policing practices for An Garda Síochána and advised on the policing needs of the Traveller Community.

Finally, in 2024 'Local Dialogue Days' with the Traveller community were held nationwide, bringing together representatives from both national and local Traveller groups and members of An Garda Síochána. They discussed issues affecting the Traveller community, including hate crimes.

Notable cases:

In August 2024, Gardaí responded to reports of an aggressive man threatening and racially abusing staff at a supermarket in Dublin City. The man had assaulted a member of staff while exiting the premises and damaged a store display. The man was convicted and sentenced to two months' imprisonment.

In May 2024, a man racially abused a taxi driver after the latter asked him to pay his fair for an earlier ride. After leaving the taxi, the perpetrator threw a can at the car as it drove off. The man was later charged and sentenced to two months in prison.