The Department of Justice is considering new laws that would give gardaí investigating child abuse imagery and other serious crimes the power to demand passwords to digital devices.

Terrified victims of domestic violence are not coming forward because of Ireland’s immigration laws, it was claimed.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is due to travel to the Polish capital, Warsaw, today for a meeting of the 46-nation Council of Europe.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said he refused the resignation of Prime Minister Marek Belka today, a decision expected to keep the unpopular governing party in office until elections later this year.