In its first annual report, the Independent Examiner of Security Legislation warned Ireland faced "far broader" threats now than those posed in the past by the militant IRA group.

"Today, Islamist terrorism is a significant cause of concern," said the report.

"Either because of the possibility of attacks within this jurisdiction - and there have been a number of such attacks within the past number of years - and also the possibility of an attack on a neighbouring jurisdiction being planned or launched from this State," it said.

The watchdog was set up last year to review the EU member's security legislation, with former senior judge George Birmingham appointed as head examiner in October.

Right-wing and left-wing extremism was also a real concern, as well as "unease about the activities of hostile state actors," said the report.

"The possibility of actions undertaken by so called 'lone wolves', whether motivated by terrorist ideology or not, also requires consideration," it said.

Legislation designed to give Irish authorities the powers to minimise such threats was weak and outdated, the report said.

Gaps in current legislation cited in the report included no provision for intercepting messages over WhatsApp, Telegram or Snapchat.

There is also no legislative basis to access content of "data-based material", such as webpages or internet browsing history, it added.