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THE GOVERNMENT has been granted the right to shut down Ireland’s mobile phone networks if it fears they could be used to engineer a terrorist attack.
The Criminal Justice Act 2013 was signed into law by President Higgins yesterday, according to a note on the Áras an Úachtaráin website.
The legislation grants the Minister for Justice and Equality the power to temporarily shut down a mobile phone network in a given area, if it is thought that a mobile phone service could be used in the mechanics of a terrorist event.
For example, an explosive device could be fitted with a detonator incorporating a mobile phone, which could be activated if someone tries to call that phone.
The legislation completed its passage through the Oireachtas on Tuesday, when it was passed by the Seanad – which also signed off on a Government request that President Michael D Higgins bypass the usual five-day waiting period before signing the Bill into law.
Had the usual waiting period been observed, the legislation may not have been signed into law until Sunday at the earliest – by which time it may have been too late to frustrate any possible terrorist plans targeting the G8 summit in Co Fermanagh in Northern Ireland which begins on Monday.
A massive security perimeter has already been built around the Lough Erne Hotel, five miles outside Enniskillen, where the leaders of some of the world’s largest economies will meet to discuss global affairs.
The resort is about 11 miles to the north-east of the border with the Republic, meaning there is an outside possibility of being able to pick up coverage from one of the Republic’s four mobile phone operators.
The Irish Council of Civil Liberties has given its informal blessing to the laws, saying the power is “proportionate” as it is subject to strict time limits, must be of direct material necessity, and can only be authorised at the highest levels of government.
It expressed concern, however, that the plans could leave mobile phone users without the ability to dial 112 and contact the emergency services.
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Aside from the Orwellian overtones of the bill, don’t the guards augment their radio system with their personal mobile phones to make up for its shortfalls meaning that shutting down the mobile network could make any garda response less coordinated?
And while we’re on telecommunications, why don’t they just get Cisco to arrange the whole thing by video conference?
David, your comment slapped me with common sense. so let me get this straight, rather then fork out millions in security and putting rich heads of other countries in a hotel,car,security etc, simply video conference in and cut costs. Amazeballs!! totes!
Gardai have a modern radio system they have no need for private phones other than a common sense backup of last resort. It would be very difficult to co-ordinate a force of any police force solely using mobile phones.
The worst thing about this article is the headline – makes no sense
If you have ever used video conferencing you would know that it also makes sense to have face to face meetings. You get a lot more done in less time. Video conferencing is great but isn’t a replacement to all face to face meetings
Brian Daly, I can tell your not a Garda. Mobile phone use is widespread. It makes at least half the job work. Please only comment on what you have direct knowledge of.
We’re not hoating the event or spending koney on it, other than what will be a slight increase in border presence but not in the millions for sure. People need to chill out. If a mobile device were to be used in such a potential fashion they’d be a shit storm as to how the State allowed it to happen. #cantwin
And still no coverage by the journal or other Irish press over the introduction of unmanned surveillance drones to Ireland with the old g8 excuse- the psni are keeping them though after the event with a mandate to cross the border into the republic.
My point would be, if they’re so paranoid that someone might want to kill them, wouldn’t you think they’d do some inner searching and wonder what it is about their attitude & behaviour that might cause such a reaction?
I guess the dubya line still stands- you’re either with us or against us. Full stop. Bah!
@ Brian obviously you don’t know any Gardai.
Yes they do use their mobile phones for work, they even use the light of their phone as torches.
Talk to any decent Garda and they will tell you out straight the lack of funding.
Anne, tell us what they have done wrong to justify being assassinated?
@ Declan
Edward snowden, Guantanamo bay, pussy riot. For a start.
You honestly can’t see that their imperialist attitude might annoy some people???? Good lord. They have you right and proper!
You should ask the Gaurds who actually use the TETRA radio system how good it actually is..Most will tell you it is a POS!! It is as usual the stripped down bargin basement version.There are features on it that were supposed to be as issued but due to money cutbacks were never installed.
perhaps ban the sale of clocks too
And 555 timers.
555 timers, now that takes me back………….thanks for the memories
I’m just wondering if they ever thought about satellite phones…
Thanks Michael D.
You weasel.
and what if some one needs emergency services in a hurry and because they have no network could end up in the lose of life.
You can still ring ’999′ without a network operator signal.
Many a handset will state on screen “Emergency Calls Only” when the SIM is removed.
Not if the network is “off the air”. You’d have to use a land line otherwise. It’s not clear if the towers stop transmitting or if the network “stays on the air” and just can’t be accessed.
The use of this legislation should be rare.
I think a G8 summit in Ireland is pretty rare
what if its the emergency services you need rescuing from?
What hidden laws were signed in with this? They often skip in something that erodes the freedom of the people when fast tracking new laws. So what’s been slipped into this one?
For example??? Oh wait you’re just making things up…
Andrew I read Shane’s comment he asked two questions, what did he make up? Please highlight his “makey up”bit, thanks.
They slipped in legislation that permitted them to dock your bank account for property tax
No Andrew I’m afraid he’s not , the offences against the state act has been used regularly to justify searches and detention that would not have been possible otherwise . It effectively removes the right to silence. This was supposed to be used on terrorists but is regularly used on protestors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX-Rt7JIhIw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Have a look of fine gaels vision of the future.
All them marching gardai, enda speaking over the video like the proper little dictator.
Folks your privacy is being slowly stripped away.
Very wary of this law. Could be an argument in its favour, on the face of it. But what constitutes an emergency? Does a protest against Alan Shatter count as a reason to distrupt mobile networks?
It’s a fair point – the BART police in San Fran used this type of legislation to curb protests “Iranian style” in train stations. They told the operators to shut off the cell coverage in the stations themselves meaning that protestors couldn’t communicate data and voice over the network.
More evil legislation designed to erode the freedoms are rights of the people using terrorism to push the need for this, this is standard procedure for the american government to pull this crap but now I am really getting concerned. Whats happening and why is every one just shruging there sholdurers and just accepting it, this is the free nation of ireland not america people, Do not fall for this fearmongering as easily as they do.
This is to set a precedent for what’s coming down the line.
As opposed to the other kind of precedent!
Shame on you higgins for allowing them rush this rhrough
I think “terrorists” might have a few other ways to detonate bombs, this is just the government lookin for yet more control over its people. There is clearly no such thing as pure freedom because by a civil right people should be allowed a peaceful protest as close as they like to the place. Soon we will follow the UK in using force to break up peaceful protests then use the propaganda station AKA RTE to say that it was needed and then condem Turkey for doing the same. We are slowly moving into NWO and yet people will still say there is no such thing as a big organisation (EU) setting rules that over power countries for their own agenda.
EU federalists are also pushing for this type of legislation all across Europe, every country the G8 meet in will implement the same controls over communication networks and even though these meetings wrap up in two days the law will remain permanently.
Alas Michael D appears to speak out of both sides of his mouth. The government has now been given authority to stifle public discontent by shutting down the networks.
First we lost our sovereignty now we have lost a principle means of communication.
If the Turkish government had been able to shut down their networks the protests against the government would not have happened.
Probably the most dangerous law in recent times. Don’t the leaders attending the conference need their phones?
Next we’ll see this legislation being used to prevent coordination of protests similar to those currently going on in Turkey.
@Gavin, I mentioned organising a protest by young unemployed people and students on another item on thejournal earlier and you have hit the nail on the head. Imagine you were to have a protest next week while 900 Garda were up minding the GF8 gang and suddenly the phones go dead. Governments are running scared of the people but are even more scared of their masters in the EUSSR and beyond.
Amazing, last week he was preaching about the citizens of the E.U. and how hard done they get it, today…… That’s another story….. Keep them in their place….
Any chance of getting Daniel O Donnell
Put in to that bill too.
Man of the people… A farce!
If someone was found to be about to detonate a bomb the network would be shut down no questions asked. No one would wait for a court order. Why bring in such a specific law? This is very troubling.
Probably something to do with the fact that the bomb wouldn’t wait for a court order to go off.
Its total crap that mobile phones are such a huge threat that , bombs have been set off for decades by remote control. Such as remotes from model airplanes etc. Why aren’t they banning all sales and confiscating all those remote devices in the country.
Answer ….because they are not comunication devices.
The pip has squeeked
This is the next step in Alan Shatter’s authoritarian crusade, in which he has managed to enlist Michael D. and the ICCL (“The Irish Council of Civil Liberties has given its informal blessing to the laws…”), thus successfully depriving both of any further libertarian or even democratic credibility. Shatter wants to see Ireland join NATO, and become another cog in the neo-imperial machinery that includes Apartheid Israel, of which he’s such an unconditional advocate. Meanwhile, he has shamelessly exploited his ministerial privilege to launch scurrilous attacks on political activists (some of whom, just one year ago, he disgracefully sought to link with Al Qaeda) and opponents in the Dáil (Mick Wallace). I’m reminded more and more of the FG/LAB coalition government (1973-77) that included Paddy Cooney and Conor Cruise O’Brien, and that saw the strengthening of Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act. Shatter and his crusade must be stoppped!
Ah now, the only reason you don’t like Shatter, Ray, is because he’s against your mad boycott-Israel crusade. I’m sure you two would get on great if you just went for a pint.
Would these hypothetical terrorists not just work around this potential network block and use a different detonation method.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYc0QZ5R6zA/T_40x7mRpiI/AAAAAAAABAc/TFRvJnjzGxA/s1600/coyote-6.jpg
So what happens if something happens like 9/11 and they shut down the networks but need extra emergency service staff?? They won’t be able to contact them on mobiles if the network is shut down??
Power looks after power not people
Shame on you Michael D.
They don’t shut down mobile phones.. They restrict access. I’m on the list so I can call even if the network is restricted. Call me if you want me to call someone on your behalf.
Plonker
Surely Vincent “The one and only” Dolan will still have access to the mobile network. If not, I am truly shocked. Oh, hang on, he’s probably AT the G8 conference as a guest speaker on humility.
Time for tea.
Bilbo has been watching waaaay to much action movies
A weak and usless freeloader.
Sure they found a way to detonate bombs long before mobile phones even existed so this will probably just make these people think up new ways of doing so.
If they are any sort of prepared terrorist they will be using satellite phones. Pointless shutting down the mobile networks. These guys are always a step ahead.
Its up the north o 2 is totally separate in england why need for shut down here
Just crazy what next a law saying the government can listen in to all are calls? What happens if the net work got closed down and some one needed help and had no house phone.
This stinks to high heaven!
The good old u s of a get what they want again through puppet shatter. All capital letters were deliberately left out by the way. Can you imagine that muppet now controlling our mobile networks??? Oh my sweet jesus christ.
Kenny the Ameba gets to play Erdogan…
Unfriendly comment on the journal.ie…turns my phone on …no connection found, emergency calls only
Because most of the Garda force (900) will be up north for that summit, and without phone signal, what happens if serious crimes get committed down here and we can’t contact emergency services? Serious flip side to the coin.
What if it’s a satellite phone?
Just use the satellite phone ! gotcha b’s….
use a satellite phone, they can’t shut that one down.
So for one weekend they rush another law onto the books. The major problem being when the G8 is well gone this remains on the books. and can be carried out anytime any place in the future and for any reason.
The G8 is a major event, and a pretty good target right now, with the problems in the Middle East. Europe or at least France and the UK have in their ‘wisdom’ agreed to take their stance with the revolutionaries in the Mid East. Seemingly unclear to both the revolutionaries are nothing to do with more moderate Muslims attempting fight for secular freedom in the mid east. Russia is poised in the Med. The US is backing off, leaving two major powers taking the side of Syria’s Assad i.e. China and Russia. Therefore it isn’t impossible there might be a threat to the G8 but on the other hand unless Dublin’s extreme Islamic militants are planning to damage the conference doubt whether anything will happen.
It’s Ireland, who would BOTHER attacking us. We have no opinion on anything. We can barely keep our own country together Nevermind sticking our noses into foreign affairs. I think we should all roll over and play dead if there’s a terrorist attack, or have a big aul prey! Same outcome either way.
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