A matter of trust - Phone tapping

THE Department of Justice confirmation that An Garda Síochána was granted permission to review more than 11,500 phone records and internet logs in 2013 and 2014 just adds to the urgency around regularising this practice by putting independent, authorative oversight in place.

A matter of trust - Phone tapping

Why Garda authorities need to be supervised in this way is an entirely different and disquieting question.

Speaking on RTÉ yesterday, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald pointed out that some criminals use up to 100 mobile phones a month. Be that as it may, it is still hard to accept that there might be entirely legitimate, proportionate reasons to allow around 50 phone taps a day in this small country. That argument is strengthened by the fact that this furore came to light when it was realised that phones were tapped in relation to the death of a showbusiness personality and leaks around unfounded drink driving claims.

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