UNCLAS DUBLIN 000310

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL KTFN PHUM PINS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT SIGNS TERRORISM BILL INTO LAW

REF: 04 DUBLIN 01811

On March 9, 2005, President Mary McAleese signed the Criminal
Justice (Terrorism Offenses) Bill 2002 into law. This
legislation brings Ireland in line with United Nations
Conventions and European Union Framework decisions on
combating terrorism; provides the legal framework necessary
for ratifying the remaining four UN conventions on terrorism
(this could happen within 90 days); and significantly
strengthens the government's ability to seize assets and
prosecute those suspected of supporting terrorism. Until this
law passed, GOI authorities could pursue and prosecute
suspects of terrorism, notably terrorism financing, only if
they also had committed criminal offenses in Ireland or had
been designated by the UN or EU. The new law also allows the
national police to require that telecommunications service
providers retain data for three years. While the pace of
passing this law was glacial, ultimately, all the main
political parties supported it, with the exception of Sinn
Fein. Sinn Fein justice spokesman Aengus O'Snodaigh called
it a "human rights disaster waiting to happen." The Irish
Council for Civil Liberties and the Human Rights Commission
expressed concern as well.

BENTON