Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015

Public bill · Government · Presented

Updates Ireland’s laws on sexual offences to give stronger protection to children, bring Irish law into line with European standards, and tighten rules on child pornography, grooming, and sexual exploitation. It also makes paying for sex an offence, modernises incest laws, and improves court procedures for sexual offence trials by making it easier and safer for children and victims to give evidence and by limiting access to sensitive counselling records. The bill also creates harassment orders to keep convicted offenders away from victims and extends some offences so they can be prosecuted even when committed abroad by Irish citizens or residents.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to give effect to Directive No. 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA, for that purpose to amend certain enactments; to amend the Punishment of Incest Act 1908; to amend the Criminal Evidence Act 1992; to repeal the Criminal Law (Incest Proceedings) Act 1995; to amend the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006; to provide for offences relating to payment for sexual activity with prostitutes, offensive conduct of a sexual nature and harassment of victims of sexual offences and to provide for related matters

Last updated 12 April 2018