GARRINGREEN HOTSPOT -- The Irish Department of Justice dispatched a letter announcing a preliminary forum on a proposed three-year data retention bill. This appears to be a posturing maneuver because the late afternoon event opens with a 20 minute address from Justice, 20 minutes from Communications and 20 minutes from An Garda Siochana. The format of this forum is designed to limit public consultation. It does not include a platform presence by Joe Meade, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner. Karlin Lillington recommends "an independent Dail group should hold hearings and get public input into this." I agree. So does the Irish Freedom Group. [technoculture] 7:47:23 AM