An Garda Síochána is still "some distance" from being fully human rights compliant, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has said.
The commission, which promotes the protection and awareness of human rights in the Republic, also remains concerned at the possible use of Irish airports for extraordinary rendition flights.
It has begun an inquiry to determine if the Government has met its international obligations on the issue. It said the results of that inquiry would be available before the end of the year. On the issue of policing, IHRC president Maurice Manning said while the Garda was currently undergoing a major reform programme, the force must accept it was at the beginning of that process, not the end.
"I'm critical [ of the Garda] and I'm positive," he said in Dublin yesterday at the launch of the IHRC's annual report.
"I think anybody would have to be critical given the level of criticisms and evidence revealed in the various tribunals. I'm also critical in that the guards is a very old organisation, difficult to change and has a culture that needs to be changed." He said "human rights policing" meant "doing everything right".
"It's going according to the book, respecting all the rules, respecting the people you're dealing with. There's no contradiction between that and good policing."
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said while his department and senior management at Garda headquarters in Dublin would take note of the commission's comments on the Garda, much reform in policing had already taken place.
The Garda Ombudsman Commission, which independently investigates complaints against members of the force, had been put in place. The Garda Inspectorate, which advises on international best practice policing, was also now fully operational.
"Clearly all of this in my view does represent a fundamental culture change within An Garda Síochána. But I do want to stress the point that the gardaí are there to protect the most fundamental human rights of all."
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy echoed Mr Lenihan's view that the Garda force was already working hard to implement changes in practices. He had no difficulty with fair criticism like that being aired by the IHRC.
