Updated to 16 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 432 of 2025)

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

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
Commencement Information
Whole Act 29 July 1998 Commenced under s. 1(2)

Amendments and other effects

How AffectedAffecting Provision
Wrt child offence under, power to proceed in absence of child Children Act, 2001 (24/2001), ss. 2 (1), 251, sch. 1
Mode of charging for child offence under Children Act, 2001 (24/2001), ss. 2 (1), 253, sch. 1
Power to arrest without warrent for child offence under Children Act, 2001 (24/2001), ss. 2 (1), 254, sch. 1
Power to order depositions for child offence under Children Act, 2001 (24/2001), ss. 2 (1), 255, sch. 1
Presumption of age wrt. child offence under Children Act, 2001 (24/2001), ss. 2 (1), 256, sch. 1
S. 2(1) amended Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (2/2017), ss. 1(2), 9
S. 3 offence for the purposes of Children First Act 2015 (36/2015), ss. 1(2), 2, sch. 3
  Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (24/2012), ss. 2, 12(2), sch. 1
S. 3 (other than subsections (2A) and (2B)) provision for anonymity of victims Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 11(2), 15(2)
S. 3 (other than subsections (2A) and (2B) exclusion from proceedings Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 10(1), 11(2)
S. 3 (other than subsections (2A) and (2B)) application extended Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 7, 11(2)
S. 3 provision relating to the commission of offence under Sex Offenders Act, 2001 (18/2001), ss. 1 (2), 3, schedule par. 16
S. 3(1) Court approval for exercise of powers where acquittal Criminal Procedure Act 2010 (27/2010), ss. 1(2), 7, 15- 18, schedule
S. 3 (1) re-trial procedure for offence under Criminal Procedure Act 2010 (27/2010), ss. 1(2), 7-14, schedule
S. 3(1) substit. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 3(a), 11(2)
S. 3(2) substit. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 3(a), 11(2)
S. 3(2A), (2B) deleted Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (2/2017), ss. 1(2), 10(a)
S. 3(2A) subsec. ins. Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 (6/2007), s. 6(a)
S. 3(2B) subsec. ins Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 (6/2007), s. 6(a)
S. 3(3) substit. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 3(b), 11(2)
  Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 (6/2007), s. 6(b)
S. 3(4) subsec. ins. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 3(b), 11(2)
S. 3(5) amended Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (2/2017), ss. 1(2), 10(b)
S. 3(5) subsec. ins. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (8/2008), ss. 3(b), 11(2)
S. 3A ins. Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 (24/2013), ss. 3, 5(2)
S. 4 offence for the purposes of Children First Act 2015 (36/2015), ss. 1(2), 2, sch. 3
  Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 (24/2012), ss. 2, 12(2), sch. 1
S. 4 provision relating to the commission of offence under. Sex Offenders Act, 2001 (18/2001), ss. 1 (2), 3, schedule par. 16
S. 4A inserted Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (2/2017), ss. 1(2), 11
S. 5 substituted Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (2/2017), ss. 1(2), 12
S. 5 provision relating to the commission of offence under Sex Offenders Act, 2001(18/2001), ss. 1 (2), 3, schedule par. 16
S. 5A inserted Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017(2/2017), ss. 1(2), 13
S. 6 substituted Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017(2/2017), ss. 1(2), 14
S. 6 provision relating to the commission of offence under Sex Offenders Act, 2001 (18/2001), ss. 1 (2), 3, schedule par. 16
S. 13 new section inserted Child Trafficking and Pornography (Amendment) Act 2004 (17/2004), s. 1
S. 13(a) am. Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013(33/2013), ss. 1(2), 131

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
None