Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
Criminal Justice Act 2007
No. 29 of 2007
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ss. 1, 2 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 3 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 4, 5 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 6 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 7, 8 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| Ss. 9, 10 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 11-13 | Not yet commenced. Requires commencement order under s. 1(2) | |
| Ss. 14, 15 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 16, 17 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 18 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| S. 19 insofar as it inserts par. (a) of s. 28(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 (No. 12 of 1967) | 1 May 2009 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 165 of 2009), art. 2, |
| S. 19 other than insofar as it inserts par. (a) of s. 28(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 (No. 12 of 1967) | Not yet commenced. Requires commencement order under s. 1(2) | |
| Ss. 20- 27 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| Ss. 28- 32 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 33- 40 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 41 | Not yet commenced. Requires commencement order under s. 1(2) | |
| Ss. 42, 43 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 44 | 9 May 2007 | Commenced on enactment |
| Ss. 45- 56 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| S. 57 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Ss. 58- 60 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
| Sch. 1 | 1 July 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 4 |
| Sch. 2 | 18 May 2007 | Criminal Justice Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 236 of 2007), art. 3 |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Act, Part 2 included in collectively cited Bail Acts | s. 1(3) | ||
| Act, Part 5 included in collectively cited Misuse of Drugs Acts | s. 1(4) | ||
| Act, Part 6 included in collectively cited Firearms Acts | s. 1(5) | ||
| Act, Part 7 included in collectively cited Garda Síochána Acts | s. 1(6) | ||
| Act, Part 8 included in collectively cited Sea-Fisheries Acts | s. 1(7) | ||
| S. 1(6) repealed | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (1/2024), ss. 1(2), 5, schedule 1 | 2 April 2025 | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 107 of 2025), art. 2 |
| S. 2 amended | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(a) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 12 amended with transitional provisions | Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act 2022 (7/2022), ss. 1(2), 5(1), 24, sch. 3 ref. 6 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 25(2)(b)-(e) deleted with retrospective application | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2021 (36/2021), ss. 8, 10, 11(2) | 27 December 2021 | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 777 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 25(8)(b) amended | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 37(a) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 25(8)(c) amended | Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (3/2023), ss. 1(4), 76(a) | 3 May 2023 | Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 213 of 2023), art. 2 |
| Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 37(b) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 | |
| S. 25(8)(ca) inserted | Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (3/2023), ss. 1(4), 76(b) | 3 May 2023 | Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 213 of 2023), art. 2 |
| S. 25(8)(d) inserted | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 37(c) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 26(2) amended with transitional provisions | Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act 2022 (7/2022), ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 26, sch. 1 ref. 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 26(9) amended with transitional provisions | Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act 2022 (7/2022), ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 26, sch. 1 ref. 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 26A new section inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 14(1) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 26A(1)(a) amended | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(b)(i) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 26A(1)(aa) inserted | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(b)(ii) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 26A(1)(b) amended | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(b)(iii) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 26A(7) amended with transitional provisions | Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act 2022 (7/2022), ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 26, sch. 1 ref. 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 41 repealed | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (1/2024), ss. 1(2), 5, schedule 1 | 2 April 2025 | Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 107 of 2025), art. 2 |
| S. 50(1)(c) amended | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(1)(a) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50(1)(d) amended | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(c)(i) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(1)(b) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment | |
| S. 50(1)(e) amended | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(c)(ii) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 50(1)(e) new paragraph inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009),s. 23(1)(c) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50(1)(f) inserted | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 5(c)(iii) | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(b) |
| S. 50(4A) new subsection inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(2)(a) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50(4B) new subsection inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(2)(a) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50(4C) new subsection inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(2)(a) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 50(9) substituted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(2)(b) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 51(1) substituted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(3) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 51(1A) new subsection inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(3) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 52 amended | Criminal Justice Act 2017 (14/2017), ss. 11, 13(2) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 13(2) | |
| Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 (No. 11 of 2014), ss. 1(2), 108(a) | 20 November 2015 | Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 508 of 2015), art. 2(e) | |
| Criminal Justice Act 2011 (No. 22 of 2011), ss. 1(2), 14 | Not yet commenced. Require commencement order under s. 1(2) | ||
| Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 23(4) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment | |
| S. 52(1), (2) inserted | Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 (No. 11 of 2014), ss. 1(2), 108(b)-(c) | 20 November 2015 | Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 508 of 2015), art. 2(e) |
| Sch. 2, para. 2(aa) inserted | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 75 | 1 November 2023 | Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 525 of 2023), art. 3(g) |
| Sch. 2, para 2(ab) inserted | Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 (41/2024), ss. 1(2), 16(a) | 31 December 2024 | Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 730 of 2024), art. 2 |
| Sch. 2, para 2(ba) inserted | Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 (41/2024), ss. 1(2), 16(b) | 31 December 2024 | Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 730 of 2024), art. 2 |
| Sch. 2 par. 9(b) substituted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 14(2) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. 2 par. 9(ba) inserted | Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009), s. 14(2) | 23 July 2009 | Commenced on enactment |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 26A | Post-Release (Restrictions on Certain Activities) Orders Scheme 2010 (S.I. No. 330 of 2010) |