President Mary McAleese has signed the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 into law, it was announced yesterday.
The Act provides a statutory framework for evidence obtained using covert surveillance which is to be used in criminal trials. It gives the Garda, Defence Forces and the Revenue a legal basis for surveillance to combat serious criminal, subversive or terrorist activity, and provides for a judicial authorisation procedure for surveillance.
It is separate to proposed legislation on gangland crime – the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009.
