Almost 200 foreigners pass aptitude test to join gardai
Sunday February 05 2006
ALMOST 200 foreigners, half of them Chinese, have passed the initial aptitude test to join the Gardai, according to Justice Minister Michael McDowell. When the current recruitment drive began 6,890 of those who applied completed a voluntary survey form and 1,310 described themselves as 'non-white Irish'.
The applicants were only asked to describe their "ethnic category". The survey form did not record their country of origin. New figures from the Minister show that 602 described themselves as Chinese, 153 were "Asian - other", 124 "black African" and five "black - other".
There were also 348 "white - other" applicants and a further 78 simply classed themselves as "other". Only 857 of those non-white Irish went on to undertake the Stage I aptitude tests and only 193 passed.
They will now go on to do the remaining stages of the recruitment competition in the coming months. Those going through to the next stage include 101 Chinese, 10 "Asian - other", two "black - African" and one "black - other".
In addition, 57 "white - other" candidates and a further 22 who classed as "other" are still in the running.
"The participation from ethnic minorities in our police force will make a positive and lasting contribution to the ongoing change and modernisation in the Garda Siochana," the Minister told Labour TD Michael D Higgins.
"I look forward to the day when trainees originating from all continents will graduate at the college and go on to achieve career distinction in the gardai.
"Planning for the policing service we want to have for this country in 20 years' time should begin now. We must be proactive and have a vision as to how the Garda Siochana can provide an effective policing service in a more diverse Ireland," Mr McDowell said.
Last year the Minister changed the entry requirements for the force in an effort to broaden membership and make it more multi-ethnic and multi-cultural.
