The Government generally respected the human rights of Irish citizens, but there were "some problems" last year, according to a new report on human rights practices in Ireland compiled by the US State Department.
"There were problems in prison sanitation and health care; however, recent renovations and new building projects significantly lessened prison overcrowding," the report states.
"The use of special arrest and detention authority and the use of non-jury courts in specific circumstances continued. Films, books and periodicals were subject to occasional censorship; however, only videos actually were censored.
"Abuse and mistreatment of women and children were problems. Asylum-seekers and Travellers (a nomadic community) faced some discrimination, and there were incidents of violence against racial minorities and immigrants."
The State Department is the US equivalent of a foreign ministry. Its Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour compiles annual reports on human rights in countries all over the world which are then submitted to Congress. The reports cover "internationally recognised individual, civil, political and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".
Reports are compiled in the first instance by embassy staff in different countries and are then forwarded to the State Department in Washington DC. The overall summary in the Irish report varies little from year to year.
However, the World Trade Centre and Pentagon attacks give a new dimension to the 2002 Report for Ireland. "The country's principal internal security concern since September 2001 has been the prevention of terrorist activity by international terrorists; however, the Government continued to monitor closely indigenous paramilitary groups active in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
"While most paramilitary groups, on both sides of the Border, have declared permanent ceasefires pursuant to the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement, several groups remained active."
While stating that "police conduct during demonstrations generally was restrained", the report comments that "members of the police used excessive force during a May Day demonstration".
In fact the demonstration, which took place in Dublin on May 6th, 2002, was not a traditional May Day rally but an anti-globalisation protest which degenerated into street clashes, with 24 arrests and allegations of excessive use of force by the Garda.
The report points out that seven gardaí were later charged with assault. But an additional seven or eight, who allegedly used their batons excessively, "were not identified".
On a more positive note, the report states: "Unlike in previous years, there were no confirmed instances of police abuse of detainees and prisoners." However, there were "incidents of societal violence against racial minorities and immigrants".
While the law prohibited discrimination against women in the workplace, "inequalities persisted regarding pay and promotions". A new national minimum wage of €6.35 went into effect. "This wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family; however, low-income families are entitled to benefits such as subsidised housing and children's allowances."
The full text of the report is available on the US State Department website at www.state.gov