The details of UPC customers who try to access child pornography will not be automatically passed to Gardai - despite a new measure to tackle the crime.

The broadband provider - one of the largest in the country - is to block online access for people trying to view child sexual abuse material.

UPC customers who deliberately or mistakenly try to log onto websites containing child porn - identified by Gardai - will have their accounts restricted.

The Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan says the customer details can be sought by Gardai if there is a criminal investigation: