Legal restrictions on the State’s power to access private communication data has “tilted the balance in favour of the criminal”, a former garda assistant commissioner has said. Figures released by the Department of Justice to the Irish Examiner show a 63% drop in the use of powers by State agencies to access communication data. The Supreme Court has referred the law to the European Court of Justice. She said that State agencies, including An Garda Síochána, had “excessive power” to monitor and retain private communications. “Ireland has repeatedly been found in violation of European law on this and yet has failed to put in place adequate safeguards against this excessive surveillance.

Source: Irish Examiner March 17, 2021 06:30 UTC