Ireland has forced the withdrawal of a controversial EU plan to allow Israel access to sensitive personal data on Irish citizens, reports the Irish Independent.

The European commission has suspended plans, resisted by Ireland, to allow the transfer to Israel and storage there of sensitive personal data on European citizens.

Responding to concerns raised by Dublin, justice commissioner Viviane Reding moved yesterday to halt the immediate adoption of an EU declaration that Israeli data protection systems are in line with European standards, says the Irish Times.

RTE reports that the concerns arose following the use of forged Irish passports in the murder of a Hamas operative, allegedly by Israeli agents.