EU: Members of the European Parliament have rejected a proposal by Ireland and three other countries to give member states the power to retain phone records for up to three years as part of the "war on terror".
The decision by MEPs may force the Government to change the laws on data retention, only five months after Minister for Justice Michael McDowell brought about the introduction of the three-year rule. MEPs argued that the proposal was disproportionate and expressed doubts about its legal basis.
With the defeat of the three-year proposal made by Ireland, the UK, Sweden and France, MEPs will now consider alternative proposals made by the EU Commission last week for the retention of records for a maximum of 12 months.
However, Mr McDowell will argue at a meeting of justice ministers next month that the EU does not have the competence to force a change in Irish law in this matter.
Earlier, MEPs voted narrowly for stricter minimum standards in the EU for the granting or refusal of refugee status.
By 305 votes to 302, with 33 abstentions, they approved a package of amendments to a commission draft directive on asylum with the aim of anchoring refugees' rights more firmly.
However, the measure barely passed after being opposed by those who claimed it was too liberal, as well as by those who said it did not provide asylum-seekers with enough protection. Seven Irish MEPs voted against the package, while Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brún abstained.
Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott said the debate showed the need for effective guidelines and standards for refugees.
She said the response of Ireland was "slow and ungenerous" compared to other European countries.
The package would allow member states to designate "super-safe countries", or a list of countries from which no asylum application would be considered. A common EU list of "safe third countries", to which asylum-seekers could be sent back, would also be drawn up and countries would be allowed operate fast-track procedures in respect of certain applications, as Ireland already does. The parliament's decision is not binding on the Council of Ministers, which has been attempting to draw up a common policy on asylum for the past five years.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams is to visit Brussels next week to seek renewed support for the peace process following the decommissioning of IRA arms, the party said.