'Illegitimate' data law still stands as EU was not notified of new act rushed through this year 

Convicted murderer Graham Dwyer is arguing that his case should have been thrown out as information that convicted him was gathered unlawfully. File picture: Collins Courts

A new law allowing communications data to be retained could be dead on arrival after the Government has admitted it failed to commence it, six months after it was rushed through the Dáil.

The Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 was passed by the Dáil with minimal scrutiny before the Oireachtas summer break in June, with then Justice Minister Helen McEntee stressing the urgent nature of the situation.