9 June 2025 - The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) welcomes the publication today by An Garda Síochána of its progress on reforms since the Commission on the Future of Policing (CoFPI)’s 2018 recommendations, but cautions that the journey of reform is far from over.
After what An Garda Síochána acknowledges in the report were “significant challenges to its reputation and credibility” following a series of scandals, human rights are now officially recognised as the foundation and purpose of Irish policing. An Garda Síochána cites a number of initiatives in this regard.
However, ICCL warns against an overly rosy view of progress made to date and the idea, as stated in the report, that An Garda Síochána is moving “past the final stages of CoFPI implementation”.
In 2024 ICCL published an independent review of progress on CoFPI implementation and found outstanding concerns regarding accountability, transparency and the effectiveness of police oversight bodies to hold An Garda Síochána to account.
ICCL has previously cautioned that the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2025, only partially implemented the root-and-branch reforms recommended by CoFPI.
Speaking today, Joe O’Brien, Executive Director of ICCL, said:
“Today’s report highlights a lot of progress made by An Garda Síochána to improve policies and strategies, but it is necessary too to look at how these changes are being implemented in practice. Moving forward, rigorous monitoring will be essential to ensure ongoing progress and accountability.
“Recent research has shown there are still tenuous relationships and low levels of trust between An Garda Síochána and minority communities. The use of stop and search powers, property damage and wrongful arrest are creating a wider ripple effect of fear, anxiety and uncertainty among racialised communities.
“Members of the public have in recent times expressed concern to ICCL about the policing of protest in Dublin and Shannon, including the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters. ICCL will continue to monitor the policing of protest as a key area in which we see unacceptable interferences with human rights.
“The government’s stated plans to introduce facial recognition technology into Irish policing risks exposing the public to indiscriminate surveillance and misidentification, and damaging the Garda’s relationship with the public, which has been long built on its community policing model.
“Nearly seven years on since the publication of the Commission’s final report, the Government must also take the lead to move forward with outstanding CoFPI recommendations – including reviewing An Garda Síochána’s status under the Freedom of Information Act 2014."
ENDS
For media queries: Ruth McCourt, ruth.mccourt@iccl.ie / molly.kavanagh@iccl.ie / 087 415 7162