Experts criticise gaps in proposed data bill

Legal experts have criticised proposed legislation drafted by Government in response to recommendations in the Murray Report for an overhaul of laws on accessing communication data of individuals and journalists.

Shane Kilcommins and Eimear Spain of the School of Law at the University of Limerick highlighted three areas, including two key recommendations in the Murray Report which are completely absent from the proposed laws.

The general scheme of the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2017 will replace the 2011 act under which state agencies, such as the gardaí, can directly request communication data from service providers.