Criminal Justice (International Cooperation on Electronic Evidence and Other Matters) Bill 2026

Public bill · Government · Presented

Creates a new Office of the Director of Criminal Justice International Cooperation to handle cooperation with other countries and EU states on getting electronic evidence for criminal cases. It would require online service providers to have a designated contact point or legal representative in place, give the new office power to monitor compliance, inspect records and impose financial penalties for failures, and take over the role of checking some terrorist-content removal orders. It matters because it is meant to speed up access to digital evidence across borders while giving Ireland a system to enforce these rules.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a body to be known as Oifig an Stiúrthóra um Chomhar Idirnáisiúnta Ceartais Choiriúil or, in the English language, as Office of the Director of Criminal Justice International Cooperation; to give effect to Directive (EU) 2023/1544 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 laying down harmonised rules on the designation of designated establishments and the appointment of legal representatives for the purpose of gathering electronic evidence in criminal proceedings; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2023/1543 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 on European Production Orders and European Preservation Orders for electronic evidence in criminal proceedings and for the execution of custodial sentences following criminal proceedings and to provide for penalties for failure to comply with obligations arising thereunder; to give further effect to Regulation (EU) 2021/784 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online; and to provide for related matters.