The NGOs have sent legislators a list of proposed amendments to the An Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill which they say are necessary to safeguard people’s rights to privacy, data protection, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and non-discrimination.

One amendment would ensure that the proposed secret tracking of vehicles by gardaí is only carried out if the measure is approved by a judge.

The draft bill currently provides that a superintendent or higher ranking garda can approve a member of garda personnel to use ANPR to carry out “focused monitoring” of a particular vehicle for at least three months.

The NGOs said this provision was not in the general scheme of the bill and therefore not subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny.