Ireland’s new Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill replaces a 1993 act, extending reach to every digital channel—IoT, email, and messaging platforms—whether encrypted or not. The draft promises a legal basis for police to intercept all communications, echoing the EU’s push for broader lawful access in 2026 year agenda.

Alongside interception, the bill introduces a spyware provision modeled on the EU Commission’s 2024 paper, allowing use only when strictly necessary and under judicial approval. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan stresses proportionality, while civil‑rights advocate Olga Cronin warns that such powers risk normalizing surveillance beyond serious crime in the future policy.

Privacy groups cite the bill’s sweeping reach as a threat to civil liberties, noting that similar measures in the UK—such as the failed iCloud backdoor—have sparked backlash. Lawmakers now face pressure to balance security with privacy, and the next parliamentary debate will decide whether Ireland adopts a hard‑line stance or seeks compromise.