Provisions to update 30-year-old phone interception laws due 'in months' 

Current legislation does not explicitly apply to more modern forms of communication such as emails and social media text and voice apps

Privacy and technical arguments against intercepting encrypted communications are being addressed by the European Commission.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said the draft legislation to update 30-year-old laws on phone interception powers will be brought to Government in “the coming months”.

Current legislation dates back to 1993 and does not explicitly apply to more modern forms of communication — from emails to social media text and voice apps to encrypted messages.