Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I had my hand up, by the way, to ask the Taoiseach about an information commissioner of interceptions, such as exists in other jurisdictions, the UK for instance, where people have a right to have this information in the form of an annual report which shows some transparency. Because of the proliferation of technology and fears that gardaí are using this mechanism as a net to totally blanket an area in investigating crime, while such initiatives are only right, there have to be proper safeguards. There is a commissioner of interceptions in the UK with powers to do that and we should have something similar here.

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