THE way gardai handle psychiatric patients should be urgently reviewed and the law should be updated, the conference was told.
Mr Sean O'Sullivan, a Cork delegate, said there was a need for trained personnel to escort mental patients.
"A Garda escort should be provided only to assist trained personnel who have fear of personal safety," he said.
Existing legislation had proved totally inadequate. For example, the list of approved detention centres for mental patients was out of date.
Conference approved a call for a review of policy aimed at "harmony between Garda instructions and the present policy of professionals in the health care area".
The AGSI general secretary, Mr George Maybury, said the promotion procedures in the force were causing morale problems. The central problem was shortage of promotional outlets.
The stark fact is that three out of every four who join An Garda Siochana will never move out of the rank of garda." Meanwhile, only one sergeant out of 12 could attain the rank of inspector.
Gardai posted overseas had proved they have excellent skills, but at home they found there were too few opportunities to allow them to rise within the force.
Mr Maybury said a radical review of the promotion system was needed so more members could reach higher posts.
He called for a review of the criminal justice system. He said the time had come to consider whether the adversarial courts system should be replaced with an inquisitorial system. A way should be found to have quicker trials.
"There is a perception that the system is not working as it should work," he said. "There is little point in having a booming economy if ordinary people cannot go about their business feeling safe and secure."