Gardaí have been holding recruitment events in IPAS centres across Ireland, with one TD describing the move as a “serious error of judgment”.
According to Freedom of Information documents released to Gript, An Garda Síochána held several recruitment sessions under the heading “Recruitment outreach minority target group” at centres managed by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).
Events included a Q&A recruitment session at the Rathmines Road Lower IPAS centre in Dublin on 15th February 2025, where “posters [were] also erected.” Another was held at Ballinafad House, an IPAS centre in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, on 14th February 2025.
A further event involved a recruitment fair held in Mosney Village Direct Provision Accommodation, Julianstown, Co. Meath, on 6th April 2023. Gardaí from the Ashbourne District were present to “speak with the residents” and “outline the opportunities available to them for a career in An Garda Síochána.” The event was attended by Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, Chief Superintendent John Dollard, Superintendent Yvonne Murphy, and members of the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit, with the Garda Mounted Unit also in attendance.
Additionally, a visit took place to the Refugee Centre at the Grand Hotel in Co. Wicklow on 28th February 2022, where posters were also displayed.
Asked by Gript for comment on these events, An Garda Síochána pointed to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris’ previous remarks on diversity within the force.
“An Garda Síochána is an increasingly diverse organisation,” they quoted Harris as saying.
“We have one of the highest rates of female officers in Europe and in our last Garda competition more than 20 per cent of applicants were from minority communities.
“However, we recognise that we have more to do in this regard to meet our aim of being fully representative of the people we serve. We want, and need, people from all backgrounds and communities to be Gardaí, and I would ask them to please apply. This is the only way we will get the representation among our ranks that communities need and deserve.”
Reacting to the revelations, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn described the approach as “bizarre and unusual to say the least.”
“It was my interpretation that these IPAS centres were to hold people who were claiming refugee status that may or may not be returning home, depending on the determination of their status,” he said.
“And many of these people in IPAS centres, as we know, haven’t given their names to the authorities, haven’t presented themselves in the correct manner, have no background or pedigree. We don’t know anything about them. And then to be inviting them to apply for the guards just seems a serious error of judgment.”
According to the Garda recruitment FAQ, eligibility criteria require applicants to either be nationals of a European Union Member State, a European Economic Area State, the UK, or the Swiss Confederation. Alternatively, applicants can be refugees or persons granted subsidiary protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or individuals who have had a specific period of continuous residence in the State.
It is said that candidates must provide documentary evidence that they continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the application process and update the Public Appointments Service and An Garda Síochána of any changes that might impact their eligibility.