An Irish Times editorial asserts that the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, signed into law in January, will mean higher costs for Internet-centric Irish businesses and puts Ireland at a "competitive disadvantage" in attracting such businesses. The author says the act, which she describes as a "transposition of an EU directive," was not put in an "Irish-appropriate context," noting that businesses such as cyber cafes and hotels and hostels that provide Internet access may fall within its scope. Under the act, Internet service providers would be required to store--and make accessible to police and the revenue service--two years' worth of online communications data.
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