Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008

Action on request.

25.— (1) Subject to subsection (3), where the request is for the interception and immediate transmission of specified telecommunications messages, the Minister may give an authorisation of the interception if of opinion that section 24 applies and is complied with in relation to the case.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), where—

(a) the request is for the interception and recording of specified telecommunication messages and transmission of the recording, and

(b) immediate transmission of the interception is not possible—

(i) from the State,

(ii) to the member state, or

(iii) in both of those cases,

the Minister may give an authorisation of the interception if of opinion that section 24 applies and is complied with in relation to the case.

(3) Where in a case referred to in subsection (1) or (2), the person who is the subject of the request is present in the State, the Minister may give an authorisation of the interception only if of opinion that—

(a) the conduct being investigated in the requesting state would, if it occurred in the State, constitute a serious offence within the meaning of the Act of 1993 and otherwise justify the giving of an authorisation under that Act, and

(b) section 24 applies and is complied with in relation to the case.

(4) If a declaration is made by the State under the 2000 Convention that it is bound by paragraph 6 (as given effect to by subsections (2) and (3)) of Article 18 of the Convention only where immediate transmission from the State of the interception concerned is not possible, paragraphs (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) of subsection (2) thereupon cease to have effect.

(5) Where the person who is the subject of the request is present in the State, the Minister may make the authorisation subject to any condition (including a condition related to the use of the intercepted messages) that would apply if the authorisation were one given under section 2 of the Act of 1993 in relation to a person present in the State.

(6) Where an authorisation is given, the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána shall—

(a) arrange for the transmission of the telecommunications messages concerned to the competent authority in the member state or a person nominated by it, or

(b) as appropriate, arrange for the recording of the messages and transmission of the recording to that authority or person.

(7) In considering any request under Article 18.8 of the 2000 Convention for a transcript of such a recording, the Minister shall have regard to all the circumstances of the particular case; and the granting of such a request may be subject to any condition to which authorisation of the interception may be subject.

(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.