Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
457. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when he will present the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 to the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3040/26]
View answerThe Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 was published and presented to Dáil Éireann on 9 January 2026. The Bill responds to a range of pressing challenges for the justice system and addresses various Programme for Government commitments. Among other provisions, the Bill includes measures to:
• criminalise the highly exploitative behaviour commonly known as ‘sex for rent’,
• amend legislation relating to disclosure of counselling records in sexual assault trials,
• encourage greater use of community service orders as an alternative to imprisonment in suitable cases,
• remove the legal prohibition on the possession and use of incapacitant spray by prison officers,
• allow the use of more advanced DNA analysis in missing persons cases,
• further facilitate videolink hearings in the criminal courts by enabling bail bonds and suspended sentence bonds to be taken by Gardai and prison officers respectively,
• establish a permanent regulatory basis under which licenced premises may provide outdoor seating on public land, and
• empower the Chief Justice to delegate certain non-judicial functions to other members of the judiciary.
The General Scheme of the Bill included a number of measures which are not in the published Bill as the drafting of these provisions is ongoing. Once this process is complete, and subject to the necessary Government approval, I intend to bring these provisions as Committee Stage amendments to the Bill.
