Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The main change is a language update: it replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” or “child sexual exploitation material” across a number of Irish laws, and renames the 1998 and 2004 Acts accordingly. It also updates related laws on sex offenders, child protection, spent convictions, and offences involving withholding information so the wording is consistent everywhere. The document includes safeguards so any past investigations, prosecutions, convictions, notices, or evidence already gathered will still remain valid under the old wording. It matters because the newer terms more clearly describe the abuse involved and help keep the law and court documents consistent.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the title of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 whereafter, following commencement of this Act, the Act of 1998 shall be titled the “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Abuse Material Act 1998”(Amendment); to amend the title of the Child Trafficking and Pornography (Amendment) Act 2004 whereafter, following commencement of this Act, the Act of 2004 shall be titled the “Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Act 2004”; to substitute the term “Child Pornography” with “Child Sexual Exploitation Material” within those Acts and other Acts.

Last updated 12 June 2025