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.
Sex Offenders Act 2001
No. 18 of 2001
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Act | 27 September 2001 | Sex Offenders Act 2001 (Commencement) Order 2001 (S.I. No. 426 of 2001), art. 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | 15/2006, s. 3(10) | 2 June 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| S. 2(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 3 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 3(2)(a) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 4(a) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 3(2)(a) substituted | 8/2008, ss. 13(a)(i), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| S. 3(2)(ii) substituted | 8/2008, ss. 13(a)(ii), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| S. 3(4) inserted | 8/2008, ss. 13(a)(iii), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| S. 3(4) deleted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 4(b) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 3A inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 5 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 4(2) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 6 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 8(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 7(a) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 8(4) substituted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 7(b) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(a)(i) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(1)(a) substituted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(a)(ii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(1)(aa) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(a)(ii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(1)(b) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(a)(iii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(2) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(b)(i), (iii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(2)(d) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(b)(ii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(3) substituted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(c) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(4) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(d) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(4A) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(e) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(5) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(f) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(6A) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(g) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(7)(b) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(h)(i) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(7)(ba) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(h)(ii) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(7A)-(7D) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(i) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(8) deleted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(j) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(8)(a) amended with transitional provisions | 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 7(a), 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 10(8)(b) amended with transitional provisions | 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 7(b), 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 10(8A) inserted with transitional provisions | 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 7(c), 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 10(9) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(k) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(10A) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(l) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10(11) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 8(m) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 10A inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 9 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 11(3) amended with transitional provisions | 7/2022, ss. 1(2), 4(1), 13, 26, sch. 1 ref. 20 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 12 amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 10(a) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 12(2A) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 10(b) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 12(3) substit. | 8/2008, ss. 13(b), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| S. 12(4) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 10(c) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 13(2) substituted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 11 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 14(5)(c) amemded | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 12 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| Ss. 14A-14H inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 13 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(a) |
| S. 16(1) substituted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 14(a) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 16(2)(b) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 14(b) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 16(5) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 14(c) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(b) |
| S. 16A-16C inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 15 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 17(1A) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 16 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 19(1)(a) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 17(a) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 19(1A)-(1D) inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 17(b) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 19(3) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 17(c) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 25(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 18 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| 40/2013, ss. 1(2), 97, sch. 2 pt. 16 | 1 January 2014 | Child and Family Agency Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 502 of 2013), art. 2 | |
| 11/2013, ss. 1(2), 72(1), sch. 6, item 34 | 1 July 2013 | Education and Training Boards Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 211 of 2013), art. 4 | |
| 42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 20 | 1 January 2005 | Health Act 2004 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 887 of 2004), art. 2 | |
| S. 26(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 19 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| Ss. 26A-26G inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 20 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 27(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 21 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 27 constr. of refs. | 24/2011, s. 13 | 19 May 2006 | s. 13(4) |
| S. 29(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 22(a) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 29(1)(b) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 22(b) | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 29(6) inserted | 2/2017, ss. 1(2), 51(a) | 27 March 2017 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 112 of 2017), art 2 |
| S. 30(2)(b) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 23 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(c) |
| S. 30A inserted | 2/2017, ss. 1(2), 51(b) | 26 February 2018 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 45 of 2018), art. 2 |
| S. 30A(1) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 24(a) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 30A(2) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 24(b) | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 30B-30D inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 25 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 31(c) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 26 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(d) |
| S. 33(4) amended | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 27 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(d) |
| S. 33(4) inserted | 8/2008, ss. 13(c), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| Sch. para. 7 substituted | 15/2006, s. 7(5)(a) | 2 June 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. para. 7A inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 28 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(d) |
| Sch. para. 8 re-inserted | 9/2023, ss. 1(2), 28 | 13 November 2023 | Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 539 of 2023), art. 2(d) |
| Sch. para. 8 deleted | 15/2006, s. 7(5)(b) | 2 June 2006 | Commenced on enactment |
| Sch. para. 16(ba) inserted | 2/2017, ss. 1(2), 51(c)(i)(I) | 27 March 2017 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 112 of 2017), art. 2 |
| Sch. para. 16(ca) inserted | 2/2017, ss. 1(2), 51(c)(i)(II) | 27 March 2017 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 112 of 2017), art. 2 |
| Sch. para. 16A inserted | 8/2008, ss. 13(d), 15(2) | 7 June 2008 | Commenced as per s. 15(2) |
| Sch. para. 17A inserted | 2/2017, ss. 1(2), 51(c)(ii) | 27 March 2017 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 112 of 2017), art. 2 |
| Sch. para. 21 inserted | 6/2007, s. 4(4) | 7 March 2007 | Commenced on enactment |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| None |