The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has called for Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell to "place human rights at the core of policing in Ireland", by implementing all of the recommendations of the Morris tribunal.
The ICCL has published a 24-page report entitled Implementing Morris, An Agenda for Change, to coincide with the Minister's "statements on accountability, discipline and training within An Garda Síochána" in the Dáil this afternoon.
The ICCL's Director, Mark Kelly, said that the reforms announced to date do not go far enough in addressing the deficiencies identified in the Morris reports
"Among the measures most urgently needed are reform of management structures, improved human rights training and proofing mechanisms and human rights compliant procedures for handling Garda agents," said Mr Kelly.
Speaking in the Dail this afternoon Mr McDowell defended the programme of police reforms he has embarked on and said the government had acted "radically to ensure that the culture and organisation of An Garda Siochana is fit for purpose".
He said the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was the "most profound piece of legislation relating to the Garda Síochána in the history of the State" and many of its provisions arose directly out of Justice Morris's investigations into Garda corruption in Donegal.
Mr McDowell also said he would bring forward amending legislation so that members of An Garda Síochána would only be able to issue search warrants in excpetional circumstances.
"My intention is to propose provisions which will replace Section 29 so as to define as closely as possible the exceptional circumstances in which warrants may be issued by members of An Garda Síochána," said Mr McDowell.
"I intend to designate a rank higher than superintendent to perform this function, place very strict timescales on such warrants and introduce an effective element of oversight independent of An Garda Síochána on the operation of such warrants."
Mr McDowell also rejected calls for the establishment of a Police Authority and said that was a role which the Dail must play.
The ICCL report lays out six clear action points which it calls on the Minister to act upon.
They are:
- Garda Management and Human Rights Proofing
- Civic Oversight — The Need for a Garda Authority
- Garda Accountability
- A Fresh Approach to Garda Recruitment and Training
- Legal Power of Superintendents to Issue a Search Warrant
- Handling of Garda Informers/Informants and Covert Policing
For each of the action points it makes recommendations on how they should be tackled. These recommendations include the establishment of a human rights monitoring framework for the Garda Síochána, the establishment of an independent Garda Authority with far-reaching powers and a Whistle Blowers Charter, outlining a procedure whereby members of the Gardaí can confidentially report suspicions of fraud, corruption, unlawful or improper conduct to Garda Headquarters.