Cianan Brennan: Lackadaisical approach to data law is going to have real-life consequences

One of the major consequences of Ireland's lack of enforcement of European data retention laws may well see murderer Graham Dwyer win his appeal over the use of mobile phone records to convict him

Ireland’s recent adherence to marquee European laws, which we are duty-bound to adopt, is at best lackadaisical, at worst wilfully, appallingly non-conformist.

The ongoing saga surrounding Ireland’s data retention laws gives the lie to the notion that the Irish are good Europeans.

We may wish to give off that impression, particularly in the era of Brexit, when having the bloc stood firmly behind us is of great comfort. We are good Europeans when it suits us.