Surveillance powers ‘must be backed by resources’

NEW surveillance powers outlined yesterday come far too late, the opposition has claimed.

They will only work if backed by resources for the gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Fine Gael justice spokesperson Charlie Flanagan said.

Welcoming the publication of the Surveillance Bill, he said evidence gathering mechanisms require an “urgent overhaul” but he said it must be more than just a “paper exercise”.