A new human rights guide outlining how the European Convention on Human Rights relates to the work of gardaí was launched by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy yesterday.
The pocket guide details the State's obligations under the convention and relates those principles to the operational activities of gardaí.
The "Short Guide to the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003" was produced by An Garda Síochána in co-operation with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Some 20,000 copies have been published, one of which will be issued to every serving member of the Garda as well as the Garda Reserve.
Mark Kelly, director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, yesterday hailed the guide as "a milestone on the path to Garda reform". It gave "crystal clear information about the relevance of human rights considerations to police work".
The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 states that "every organ of the State shall perform its functions in a manner compatible with the State's obligations under the convention provisions".
It deals with issues such as the right to life, to a fair trial, to liberty and security and to respect for privacy and family life.