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Updated to 21 November 2025 (Act No. 11 of 2025 and S.I. No. 547 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Offences against the State Act 1939
No. 13 of 1939

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act  14 June 1939 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Offences Against the State Acts 2/1940, s. 1(3)
  26/1972, s. 6(2)
  3/1985, s. 9(2)
  39/1998, s. 19(2)
Records held by Defence forces in relation to collectively cited Offences Against the State Acts excluded from application of Freedom of Information Act 2014 30/2014, ss. 1(2)-(4), 42(c)(ii)(I)
Act applied with modifications 2/2005, s. 5(2), (4)
Offences under collectively cited Offences Against the State Acts - possible inferences from silence in relation to 39/1998, s. 5
Provision relating to bail 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 25, 29, 30
Garda powers in relation to scheduled offence under 32/1976, ss. 8, 16(2)
S. 2 amended 26/1972, s. 5
S. 6(1) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(1), 16(2)
S. 6(2) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(2), 16(2)
S. 7(1) am. 32/2009, s. 18(1)(a)
  32/1976, ss. 2(3), 16(2)
S. 7(2) am. 32/2009, s. 18(1)(b)
  32/1976, ss. 2(4), 16(2)
S. 7(3) inserted 32/2009, s. 18(2)
S. 7(3)(a) amended 43/2014, ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4
S. 7(4) inserted 32/2009, s. 18(2)
S. 11(3) (in pt.) repealed 14/1945, s. 13, sch.
Ss. 13, 14 amended 32/1976, s. 14
S. 15(3) amended 32/1976, ss. 2(5), 16(2)
S. 15(4), assembly under exempt 39/1998, ss. 12(4), 18
S. 18 definition of unlawful organisation extended 2/2005, s. 5(1), (3), (4)
S. 21 application extended 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i)
S. 21(2)(a) amended 2/2005, s. 48(a)
S. 21(2)(b) amended 2/2005, s. 48(b)
  32/1976, ss. 2(6), 16(2)
S. 21A inserted 2/2005, s. 49
S. 21A amended 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i)
S. 22 functions transferred and references construed S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 22 application confirmed, ownership of funds construed 3/1985, s. 8(1), (2)
S. 22 (a) am. 2/2005, s. 50
Ss. 22A-22I inserted 2/2005, s. 51
S. 23 ownership of funds construed 3/1985, s. 8(2)
S. 25(1), (2) am. 32/1976, s. 4(a)
S. 25(6) ins. 32/1976, s. 4(b)
S. 27(4) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(7), 16(2)
S. 29 substit. 33/2012, ss. 1, 4(2)
  32/1976, s. 5
S. 30 power to take samples and prints from persons in custody under 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 9, 11-13, 31-33, 35, 86, 100
S. 30 application of certain provisions of Criminal Justice Act 1984 extended to persons custody under 22/1984, s. 9, s. 9(2) as inserted by 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 104(c)
S. 30, matters to be recorded when direction given under extending period of detention S.I. No. 119 of 1987, reg. 7(4)
S. 30 provision made for recording of interviews with persons detained under S.I. No. 74 of 1997, regs. 1(2), 3(2)(b)
S. 30 Garda powers in relation to person arrested under 32/1976, ss. 7, 16(2)
S. 30 application restricted 33/1976, s. 2(5)
S. 30(3A) inserted 32/2009, s. 21(1)(a)
S. 30(4)-(4C) substituted, inserted 39/1998, ss. 10, 18
S. 30(4BA) inserted 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4BB) inserted 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4BC) inserted 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4D) inserted 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(a)
S. 30(4D) substituted 32/2009, s. 21(1)(c)
S. 30A inserted 39/1998, ss. 11, 18
S. 30A(1) constr. of refs. 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 166
S. 30A(1) substit. 32/2009, s. 21(2)
S. 30A(1A) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(2)
S. 30A(2)(b) am. 32/2009, s. 21(3)
  26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(i)
S. 30A(3) am. 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(ii)
S. 34* declared unconstitutional Cox v. Ireland (H.C., S.C.) [1992] 2 I.R. 503
Part 5 (ss. 35-53), saver for powers under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(c)
Part 5 (ss. 35-53), certain offences deemed scheduled offences 32/2009, s. 8(2)
  39/1998, s. 14(2)
S. 35(2) proclamation made Iris Oifigiuil, 22 August 1939
Ss. 35, 36 saver for Government power under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(a)
Ss. 35, 36, saving for 39/1998, s.14 (3) (a)
S. 36 power of Garda where suspected scheduled offence 26/1972, s. 2
Ss. 36(3), 37 certain offences deemed scheduled offences 32/2009, s. 8(2)
  39/1998, s. 14(2), (3)
S. 38(4) ins. 2/2005, s. 52
S. 39 registrar appointed under deemed to be constituent court office 36/2009, ss. 1(2), 17(2)
S. 39(5) substituted 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 109
S. 44(1) substituted 27/2010, ss. 1(2), 32
S. 44(2) application continued 31/1995, s. 3(3)
S. 44(2) references construed 40/1993, s. 3(8)
  39/1961, s. 12(3)
S. 45(2) saver for DPP power under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(b)
S. 45(2) am. 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11
S. 45(2), saving for. 39/1998, s. 14(3)(b)
S. 46(2) am. 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11
S. 47-49 procedures prescribed S.I. No. 183 of 2016, rls. 2-91
  S.I. No. 182 of 2016, rls. 2-91
S. 49(2)-(8) ins. 2/2005, s. 53
S. 52, applic. rstrct. 39/1998, s. 13
Part 6 (ss. 54-59) repealed 2/1940, s. 2
S. 54(2) proclamation made Iris Oifigiuil 22 August 1939
S. 55* declared unconstitutional State (Burke) v Lennon [1940] I.R.136

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 19(1) Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 7 of 1983)
  Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 162 of 1939)
S. 36 Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 282 of 1972)
  Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 142 of 1972)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 7) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 326 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 6) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 282 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 5) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 212 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 4) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 205 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 3) Order 1940 (S.I. No. 334 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 343 of 1939)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 339 of 1939)
S. 36(3) Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (Cessation) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 192 of 1948)
S. 41(1) Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 2 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 183 of 2016)
  Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 1 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 182 of 2016)
  Offences Against The State Acts, 1939 To 1998 (Special Criminal Court Rules) 2001 (S.I. No. 536 of 2001)
  Special Criminal Court Rules 1975 (S.I. No. 234 of 1975)
  Special Criminal Court Rules 1972 (S.I. No. 147 of 1972)
  Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24Th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 441 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 346 of 1939)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Rules of Special Criminal Court 1939 (S.I. No. 266 of 1939)
S. 50(4) Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 1946 (S.I. No. 279 of 1946)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 338 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 182 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 297 of 1940)
  Offences, Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 178 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 106 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 288 of 1939)
S. 58 Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Part VI) (Detention) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 249 of 1939)
S. 59 Offences Against The State (Internment Commission) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 344 of 1939)

*S. 34 : Invalid. Cox v. Ireland (H.C., S.C.) [1992] 2 I.R. 503.

*S. 55 Invalid. State (Burke) v Lennon [1940] I.R.136