In response to concerns raised by media organisations, an Garda Síochána has established a dedicated incident report registration process for journalists and media personnel. Incidents, including online abuse, involving media workers are reported to a single point of contact (a dedicated Garda Media Engagement Officer) by gatekeepers within media companies.
The Garda Media Engagement Officer records the incident on a central database, to allow tracking of incidents involving media workers, and then ensures that the incident is investigated appropriately by the relevant local Garda personnel.
This mechanism has proved effective in ensuring that incidents are reported and satisfactorily followed up.
