Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-17
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

Amendment No. 6 empowers the District Court to actively consider journalistic privilege when assessing search warrant applications. It ensures warrants are refused unless strict requirements are met. This protects press freedom, prevents overreach, and reinforces the essential democratic role of independent journalism.
Amendment No. 8 strengthens the protection of journalistic sources by allowing disclosure only through a court order and only where strictly necessary and proportionate. It requires judges to weigh constitutional rights, European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, and domestic case law, ensuring press freedom is upheld while balancing genuine public interest needs.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-17