Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993

Number 10 of 1993

INTERCEPTION OF POSTAL PACKETS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MESSAGES (REGULATION) ACT 1993

REVISED

Updated to 2 April 2025

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Act 2025 (2/2025), enacted 2 April 2025, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 107 of 2025), made 2 April 2025, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number 10 of 1993

INTERCEPTION OF POSTAL PACKETS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MESSAGES (REGULATION) ACT 1993

REVISED

Updated to 2 April 2025

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1.

Definitions.

2.

Authorisation of interceptions.

3.

Restriction of power under Act of 1983 to require interceptions.

4.

Conditions justifying interception for purpose of criminal investigation.

5.

Conditions justifying interception in interests of security of State.

6.

Applications for authorisations.

7.

Cesser of interceptions no longer required.

8.

Duties of Independent Examiner in relation to Act.

9.

Complaints procedure.

10.

Provisions in relation to certain proceedings and evidence.

11.

Retention of official documents.

12.

Restriction of disclosure of existence of authorisations and of matter intercepted.

13.

Amendment of Act of 1983.

14.

Repeal of section 18 of Official Secrets Act, 1963.

15.

Expenses.

16.

Short title and transitional provision.

Acts Referred to

Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956

1956, No. 45

Official Secrets Act, 1963

1963, No. 1

Post Office (Protection) Act, 1884

1884, c. 76

Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983

1983, No. 24

Telegraph Act, 1863

1863, c. 112

Number 10 of 1993

INTERCEPTION OF POSTAL PACKETS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MESSAGES (REGULATION) ACT 1993

REVISED

Updated to 2 April 2025

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE INTERCEPTION OF CERTAIN POSTAL PACKETS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MESSAGES AND TO MAKE PROVISION FOR RELATED MATTERS. [6th June, 1993]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text):

C1

Act applied with modifications (1.12.2014) by Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 (7/2008), s. 25(8), S.I. No. 541 of 2014.

Action on request.

25.— ...

(8) The authorisation is deemed to be an authorisation under section 2 of the Act of 1993, and that Act and section 110 of the Act of 1983 (in so far as it relates to directions related to such authorisations) have effect accordingly, with any necessary modifications, for all purposes as if the authorisation and any such directions had been given under the Act of 1993 and the Act of 1983.