In Ireland, a group called Digital Rights Ireland has used a freedom of information (FOI) request to obtained select passages from government emails detailing government plans ( [broken link removed] ) to enact a nation-wide web filter. The Department of Justice has previously refused the public access to the key documents.
In one email government officials chat with mobile service provider Vodafone about "introduction of internet filtering in Ireland". And another email is titled "re proposed introduction of blocking technology". Other emails discuss international use of blocking and proposed European legislation.
An email on the filtering was forwarded to Department of Justice in charge of casino gaming regulation, indicating the country might use the filter to try to ban web gambling (another "amoral" activity, which is currently banned in the U.S. as well).
Proponents of filtering say its essential for modern nations to filter out objectionable or amoral content. However, its opponents say that it is far too blunt a tool and often damages legitimate businesses. Describes TJ McIntyre, a barrister, UCD law lecturer and chairman of Digital Rights Ireland, "Blocking involves censorship taken on no legal basis. There is no judge, no jury and no right to be heard if you are blocked. The chances are it also will be used in unaccountable ways by unaccountable organizations."