Minister for Justice Alan Shatter says the Government is drafting new legislation to give new search powers to the gardaí following a ruling that previous search warrants were unconstitutional.
At least three trials against men collapsed after the Supreme Court ruled that searches could no longer be carried out under Section 29 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Mr Shatter said this afternoon new legislation to address this was being drafted as a priority.
Senior Garda Officers investigating subversive and organised crime had for years the power to sign warrants and search homes for explosives, firearms and other evidential material.
However, last February the Supreme Court declared these Section 29 warrants unconstitutional in a case taken by Ali Charaf Damache. He was living in Waterford when he was arrested as a suspect in an alleged conspiracy to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks over his drawing of the prophet Muhammad.
Since then at least two other cases have collapsed. The State could not proceed against 47-year-old Paul Maye for alleged firearms and ammunition offences or 34-year-old Peter Butterly Togher, Dunleer, who had pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA.
Mr Shatter announced the Government has approved the drafting of the Criminal Justice Search Powers Bill as a priority.
He says the new legislation will address the issues raised by the Supreme Court judgement.
