Ireland is to extend the retention of personal data collected from "mobile calls, faxes, and e-mail and Internet usage" to up to four years, the Irish Times reports.

A new Department of Justice Bill, modelled on the UK's highly controversial RIP Act, is in draft stage and could be enacted by Spring, the paper says.

Expect opposition: "It is understood that Department officials failed to consult any organisation other than the Garda Síochána (the Police) in preparing legislation which would in effect overturn existing EU data protection directives."

Here is the Irish Times story. And here is our Irish content partner, ElectricNews.Net, on the subject. ®

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