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NEW LAWS COULD see mobile phone networks shut down in certain areas during the G8 summit due to the threat of terrorist activity.
Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter told the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality today that the proposed amendments to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2013 came about because of the possibility of terrorist activity when the G8 takes place in Fermanagh in June.
He said that he intends to introduce amendments to “deal with threat to life and property posed by explosive devices which make use of mobile communications technology in their construction or activation”.
Prevent death or damage
Shatter described the purpose of the amendments as allowing for “direction to issue to mobile phone services providers to cease service provision in a limited area in order to prevent death or damage to property”.
The provision will contain safeguards to ensure that any interference with services is limited to the extent necessary to deal with the threat, he added.
In order for the full house to have an opportunity to consider these new elements, the amendments will be introduced at report stage on 22 May.
As these provisions are outside the scope of the current title of the bill, the title will also have to be amended.
The reason behind the legislation, said Shatter, is that it is “possible that terrorist groups may try to use the occasion of the summit to at the very least garner publicity for themselves”.
He said that there is also a “real danger of loss of life if such a device was successfully detonated”.
Threats
In 2012, Pakistan blocked its mobile phone service during Eid to prevent possible terror attacks. Mobile phones have been used to detonate bombs in some countries, including Madrid in 2004.
In 2003, the FBI said that it found bombs that were detonated by remote control in Saudi Arabia, while in 2002 a Jersusalem bombing was detonated using a call from a mobile phone.
It was also investigated whether a bomb planted in Belfast in March of this year could have been detonated by mobile phone.
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Decisions in dublin bus go round and round, round and round round and round…..
They like to do things that suits them and not the customers. Love to know the exact reasons for the change they want. A drivers Sunday roast break.
I love those endearing Management bullshit terms – reliability, customer friendly, sustainability, efficiency, the list goes on & on.
Dublin bus is a useless quango that only exists for the benefit of the drivers. I live near the 27 bus route and at times they’re so rare that when the bus appears it’s like a mirage
So Rare ! Last week I saw 2x 27buses passing me bye in Fairview within seconds of each other.
The 27 is probably one of the least rare bus routes in their fleet.
This is national news then
Actually it is yesterdays news Aidan, but you are only reading it now due to your crappy Broadband down in Cork.
Haha
Some cream for that burn, Aidan?
This is really important news for the country
It is. More people would be affected by this than the population of Leitrim. Important it gets coverage.
It’s an important route to Beaumont Hospital. The 17a is the most undependable bus ever.
Galway people and Kerry people are REALLY interested in the 27B Dublin bus route.
As is the Secretary General of the United Nations.
Not.
The 360meg bb is fine in Cork thanks
have your say