The head of the Irish Human Rights Commission criticised the Government's attitude to the use of Shannon airport for the rendition of US military prisoners.
In comments at a public forum at Boston College, on St Stephen's Green, last night, Dr Maurice Manning said he was "hugely infuriated" by the Government's attitude towards allowing rendition in Ireland. He said if the Government was not sensible, a "bloody" fight on the subject would ensue.
Rendition is the illegal and secret practice of transferring prisoners from one state to another. It has been long suspected that US military planes landing at Shannon have held prisoners from Iraq and Afghanistan en route for interrogation at secret European locations. If this was happening, said Dr Manning, Ireland would be a party to human rights abuses.
"We have no evidence that Shannon airport is being used, but there is strong reason to believe it is happening," said Dr Manning. "The Government I think is out of touch with Irish public opinion on the matter," said the former Fine Gael politician and politics lecturer at UCD.
"We have a report on rendition due out in four weeks' time and already we're feeling a little bit of pressure to go easy, which we won't do. It's very foolish for people to put pressure, because it is more likely to make you stubborn."
In a wide-ranging address, Dr Manning also criticised the senior ranks of the police service. "The army impresses me greatly. Senior guards don't," he said. He said the "autocratic" structure of the Garda makes reform difficult.
He was speaking alongside Kathleen O'Toole, the chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate. Ms O'Toole, a former commissioner with the Boston police force, criticised the Garda recruitment and promotion system.
"It takes an average of 12 years to get from a beat officer, a garda position, into first-line supervisor position, a sergeant position.
"In how many other organisations in either government or the private sector would you wait 12 years for the first promotion, and then it takes an average of eight more years to get to the inspector rank. So I'm really concerned about that whole promotion system, and it's something we'll take a look at."
Ms O'Toole said it was important for Ireland to get back to its "proud roots" of community policing, where gardaí served the community. A more ethnically diverse force was vital, she said.
"It's important to involve the community to a greater extent. That doesn't just mean people who have been here for decades - it means the new arrivals as well. In order to be credible and effective the service must reflect the community."