The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has awarded the Government what it describes as a “disappointing” score of 38% in a report on human-rights commitments made in the Programme for Government.

The ICCL’s report said that little progress had been made in a wide range of areas.

“In particular, we are concerned about the Government’s commitments to improve conditions for asylum-seekers in Ireland, and to end direct provision,” the organisation said.

The ICCL also cited the Government’s efforts to extend the powers governing garda use of CCTV and automated number-plate recognition, and to introduce body-worn cameras for gardaí, as “significant” causes for concern.

Hate-crime legislation

“The Government has gone even further than its Programme for Government commitment by setting out its intention to permit gardaí to use facial-recognition technology (FRT),” the organisation added.

The report did, however, welcome some actions, pointing out that the Government had followed up on its commitment to introduce hate-crime legislation.

It also opened a new scheme for undocumented people living in Ireland to regularise their status, which the ICCL said had “transformed” the lives of thousands of people.

“It’s clear that Ireland still has significant progress to make if it is to become a country where all our rights are guaranteed without exception," said ICCL executive director Liam Herrick (pictured, left).