The release today of Amnesty International's Annual report 2003 was marked by criticism of the Irish Government for its failure to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law.
Amnesty's report was also critical of the Government's failure to introduce legislation to monitor transfers of military, security and police equipment from Ireland to other countries.
The report cites continuing concern at the treatment of asylum-seekers in Ireland and the allegations of misconduct by the Garda Síochána.
In the past year, Amnesty International has shifted its focus to also include issues of social justice and has been critical of the treatment in Irish prisons of people with mental illness.
The human rights organisation also stated its concern at the Minister for Justice's refusal to allow researchers from a joint Amnesty International-Irish Penal Reform Trust to visit several Irish prisons to investigate the issue of racism in Irish detention establishments.
Amnesty is also calling for the swift establishment of a monitoring body to scrutinise the behaviour of gardaí as set out under the Belfast Agreement.
The organisation has an observer at the investigation into the shooting dead by gardaí of John Carthy.
Mention was also given to allegations of Garda use of 'excessive force' during the 'Reclaim the Streets' protests in Dublin in May 2002.
The report was also critical over the reported refusal by the British government to co-operate with the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 1974 bombings in Dublin and Monaghan.