‘Sinister’: Serious Concerns Raised About Bill Allowing Gardaí to Seize Journalists’ Phones - 09/01/2026 episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 9, 2026 · 8 MIN

‘Sinister’: Serious Concerns Raised About Bill Allowing Gardaí to Seize Journalists’ Phones - 09/01/2026

from The Agenda

A bill quietly announced by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan over the Christmas break has come under sharp criticism this week over fears it will have a chilling effect on press freedoms and force journalists to reveal their sources.News that Cabinet had approved the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill (2025) was announced by the Department of Justice in a press release on Saturday 27 December. Under the proposed legislation, gardaí will be given greater powers to search digital devices such as phones without prior judicial approval.Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson Matt Carthy has said that his party has serious concerns about the bill, and Deputy Carty joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bill quietly announced by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan over the Christmas break has come under sharp criticism this week over fears it will have a chilling effect on press freedoms and force journalists to reveal their sources.News that Cabinet had approved the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill (2025) was announced by the Department of Justice in a press release on Saturday 27 December. Under the proposed legislation, gardaí will be given greater powers to search digital devices such as phones without prior judicial approval.Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson Matt Carthy has said that his party has serious concerns about the bill, and Deputy Carty joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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‘Sinister’: Serious Concerns Raised About Bill Allowing Gardaí to Seize Journalists’ Phones - 09/01/2026

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A bill quietly announced by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan over the Christmas break has come under sharp criticism this week over fears it will have a chilling effect on press freedoms and force journalists to reveal their sources.News...

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