Charlie Flanagan says policing the border region has long been challenging as criminals have always sought to exploit the border - but adds there will be no hiding place for criminals.

IRELAND’S performance on human rights is to be put under the spotlight for the first time next week when the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for human rights makes a week-long visit.

Protesters tonight gathered outside Minister for Justice Michael McDowell’s constituency office in south Dublin demanding the Government take action over the use of Shannon Airport by CIA aircraft.

There has been a steady decline in the number of racist incidents reported in Ireland, it emerged today.