Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2019

What is this act about?

This law amends existing legislation concerning sexual offences, specifically the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. It primarily adjusts penalties for incest and introduces stricter sentencing for repeat sexual offenders.

Who it applies to: Individuals convicted of incest; Individuals convicted of sexual offences listed in the Schedule of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

Deadlines:

The maximum term of imprisonment for incest has been changed to not exceeding 10 years.
A female person aged 17 or older who consents to carnal knowledge with her grandfather, father, brother, or son (knowing their relationship) is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
If a person (not under 18) is convicted of a second scheduled sexual offence within a specified period (10 years from the first conviction, disregarding imprisonment time, or during imprisonment), and the first offence resulted in a sentence of not less than 5 years imprisonment, the court must impose a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than three quarters of the maximum term for the subsequent offence.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Criminal law
Articles: 10
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Penalties for incestuous acts.
Sentencing for individuals convicted of certain sexual offences.
The application of minimum prison terms for repeat offenders of specified sexual crimes.
Conditions under which a minimum prison term can be varied or reviewed.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals convicted of incest.
Individuals convicted of sexual offences listed in the Schedule of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

What are the key points?

The maximum term of imprisonment for incest has been changed to not exceeding 10 years.
A female person aged 17 or older who consents to carnal knowledge with her grandfather, father, brother, or son (knowing their relationship) is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
If a person (not under 18) is convicted of a second scheduled sexual offence within a specified period (10 years from the first conviction, disregarding imprisonment time, or during imprisonment), and the first offence resulted in a sentence of not less than 5 years imprisonment, the court must impose a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than three quarters of the maximum term for the subsequent offence.
If the maximum term for the subsequent offence is life imprisonment, the minimum term imposed shall be not less than 10 years.

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Indemnity Act, 1923

Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021

Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1998

Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Act, 2002

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023

Criminal law

Legal text

Contents (10)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2019 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2019 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2019 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2019 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 4 of 2019 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2019 CONTENTS

Section 1

1.Definitions

Section 2

2.Amendment of section 1 of Act of 1908

Section 3

3.Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1908

Section 4

4.Amendment of Act of 2017

Section 5

5.Offences for purposes of section 58 of Act of 2017

Section 6

6.Short title and commencement Acts Referred to Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (No. 22) Children Act 2001 (No. 24) Criminal Justice Act 1951 (No. 2) Criminal Justice Act 1960 (No. 27) Criminal Justice Act 1993 (No. 6) Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (No. 8) Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 (No. 32) Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 (No. 10) Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 (No. 15) Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 (No. 2) Prisons Act 1970 (No. 11) Prisons Act 1972 (No. 7) Punishment of Incest Act 1908 (8 Edw. 7 c.45) Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 (No. 38) Number 4 of 2019 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2019 An Act to amend the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 ; and to provide for related matters. [26th February , 2019] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:

Definitions 1. In this Act— “Act of 1908” means the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 ; “Act of 2017” means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 .

Amendment of section 1 of Act of 1908 2. Section 1 (as amended by section 28 of the Act of 2017) of the Act of 1908 is amended in subsection (1) by the substitution of “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years” for “imprisonment for life or a lesser term of imprisonment”.

Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1908 3. The Act of 1908 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 2: “2. Any female person of or above the age of 17 years, who with consent permits her grandfather, father, brother or son to have carnal knowledge of her (knowing him to be her grandfather, father, brother or son, as the case may be), shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.”.

Amendment of Act of 2017 4. The Act of 2017 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 57: “Commission of another offence specified in Schedule within specified period 58. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where a person (other than a person under the age of 18 years)— (a) has been convicted on indictment of an offence specified in the Schedule (in this section referred to as ‘the first offence’), (b) has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 5 years in respect of that offence, and (c) is convicted on indictment of an offence specified in the Schedule (in this section referred to as ‘the subsequent offence’) that is committed— (i) during the period of 10 years from the date of conviction of the first offence and, for the purpose of determining that period, there shall be disregarded any period of imprisonment in respect of the first offence or the subsequent offence, or (ii) during any such period of imprisonment, (in this section the total period comprising the periods referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) is referred to as ‘the specified period’), the court shall, in imposing sentence on the person in respect of the subsequent offence, specify as the minimum term of imprisonment to be served by the person a term of not less than three quarters of the maximum term of imprisonment prescribed by law in respect of such an offence and, if the maximum term so prescribed is life imprisonment, the court shall specify a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years.

(2)Subsection (1) shall not apply where the court is satisfied that it would be disproportionate in all the circumstances of the case to specify as the minimum term of imprisonment to be served by the person concerned the term of imprisonment referred to in that subsection in respect of the subsequent offence.

(3)Subsection (1) shall apply to a person in respect of the subsequent offence only if that offence is committed after the commencement of this section and that subsection shall apply to a person whether the first offence is committed before or after such commencement.

(4)If, in relation to a sentence of a term of imprisonment imposed on a person in respect of the first offence— (a) the operation of the whole term is suspended, then subsection (1) shall not apply to that offence, or (b) the operation of a part of the term is suspended, the part of that term the operation of which is not suspended shall be regarded as the term of imprisonment imposed on the person in respect of the first offence for the purposes of subsection (1).

(5)Subsection (1) shall not apply to a person if the conviction in respect of the first offence is quashed on appeal or otherwise.

(6)A reference in this section to a sentence imposed on a person in respect of the first offence shall— (a) if the sentence is varied on appeal, be construed as a reference to the sentence as so varied, or (b) if, on the application of the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 , the sentence is quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, and another sentence is imposed in place of it by that Court on the person, be construed as a reference to that other sentence.

(7)For the purposes of subsections (1)(c) and (9), a period of imprisonment means any time when the person concerned is— (a) remanded in custody, (b) serving a sentence in prison, or (c) temporarily released under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1960 .

(8)References in this section to the subsequent offence shall include references to a second or subsequent offence specified in the Schedule of which a person (other than a person under the age of 18 years) is convicted on indictment during the specified period.

(9)The specified period in relation to a person to whom subsection (1) applies shall expire only when the person has not been convicted of an offence specified in the Schedule— (a) during the period of 10 years from the date of conviction of the subsequent offence and, for the purpose of determining that period, there shall be disregarded any period of imprisonment in respect of the first offence or the subsequent offence, or (b) during any such period of imprisonment.

(10)If, following the application of subsection (1) to a person in respect of a conviction on indictment of an offence specified in the Schedule— (a) his or her conviction in respect of the first offence is quashed on appeal or otherwise, or (b) the sentence imposed on the person in respect of the first offence is varied on appeal so that it no longer falls under subsection (1)(b), the person may apply to the court that imposed the sentence on him or her in respect of the subsequent offence to review it and the court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, vary that sentence.

(11)(a) If a sentence imposed on a person in respect of a conviction on indictment of an offence specified in the Schedule does not fall under subsection (1)(b) but the sentence is— (i) varied on appeal, or (ii) on the application of the Director of Public Prosecutions under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 , quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, and another sentence is imposed in place of it by that Court on the person, so that the sentence then falls under subsection (1)(b), subsection (1) shall apply in respect of an offence specified in the Schedule (‘the subsequent offence’) committed by the person within the specified period. (b) If, in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (a), a sentence has, at the time of the appeal referred to in subparagraph (i) of that paragraph or, as the case may be, the application referred to in subparagraph (ii) of that paragraph, been imposed on the person concerned in respect of the subsequent offence, the Director of Public Prosecutions may apply to the court that imposed the sentence to review it and the court shall apply subsection (1) to that person in respect of the subsequent offence and, if appropriate, vary the sentence accordingly.

(12)The power conferred by section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act 1951 to commute or remit a punishment shall not, in the case of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed in accordance with subsection (1) in respect of the subsequent offence, be exercised before the expiry of the minimum term of imprisonment specified by the court in accordance with that subsection less any reduction of that term arising under subsection (13).

(13)The rules or practice whereby prisoners generally may earn remission of sentence by industry and good conduct shall apply in the case of a person serving a sentence imposed in accordance with subsection (1) in respect of the subsequent offence and the minimum term of imprisonment specified by the court in accordance with that subsection shall be reduced by the amount of any remission so earned by the person.

(14)Any power conferred by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1960 to release temporarily a person serving a sentence of imprisonment shall not, in the case of a person serving a sentence imposed in accordance with subsection (1) in respect of the subsequent offence, be exercised during the period for which the commutation or remission of his or her punishment is prohibited by subsection (12) unless for grave reason of a humanitarian nature, and any release so granted shall be only of such limited duration as is justified by that reason.

(15)The reference in subsection (14) to section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1960 shall be construed to include that section as applied by section 4 of the Prisons Act 1970 .

(16)References in this section to an offence specified in the Schedule shall include— (a) references to participation as an accomplice of a person who commits such an offence, and (b) references to an offence of attempting or conspiring to commit, or inciting the commission of, such an offence.

(17)In this section ‘imprisonment’ includes— (a) detention in a place provided under section 2 of the Prisons Act 1970 , and (b) detention in a place specified under section 3 of the Prisons Act 1972 , and ‘prison’ and ‘sentence of imprisonment’ shall be construed accordingly.”.

Offences for purposes of section 58 of Act of 2017 5. The Act of 2017 is amended by the insertion of the following Schedule after section 58 (inserted by section 4): “SCHEDULE section 58 Offences for the purposes of section 58 1. An offence under section 1 of the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 (incest by males).

2.An offence under section 2 of the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 (incest by females of or over the age of 17 years).

3.A rape offence within the meaning of section 1 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 .

4.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 : (a) section 2 (sexual assault); (b) section 3 (aggravated sexual assault); (c) section 4 (rape under section 4 of that Act).

5.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 : (a) section 2 (sexual offences committed outside the State); (b) section 3 (offence of transporting person for purpose of enabling offence to which section 2(1) of that Act relates to be committed); (c) section 4 (offence of publishing information likely to promote etc. commission of offence to which section 2(1) of that Act relates).

6.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 : (a) section 3 (child trafficking and taking, etc., child for sexual exploitation); (b) section 4 (allowing child to be used for child pornography); (c) section 4A (organising etc. child prostitution or production of child pornography); (d) section 5 (producing, distributing, etc. child pornography); (e) section 5A (participation of child in pornographic performance); (f) section 6 (possession of child pornography).

Section 7

7.An offence under section 249 of the Children Act 2001 (causing or encouraging sexual offence upon a child).

Section 8

8.An offence under any of the following provisions of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 : (a) section 2 (defilement of child under 15 years of age); (b) section 3 (defilement of child under 17 years of age); (c) section 3A (offence by person in authority).

Section 9

9.An offence under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 (soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution of trafficked person).

Section 10

10.An offence under any of the following provisions of this Act: (a) section 3 (obtaining, providing etc. a child for purpose of sexual exploitation); (b) section 4 (invitation etc. to sexual touching); (c) section 5 (sexual activity in presence of child); (d) section 6 (causing child to watch sexual activity); (e) section 7 (meeting child for purpose of sexual exploitation); (f) section 8 (use of information and communication technology to facilitate sexual exploitation of child); (g) section 21 (sexual act with protected person); (h) section 22 (offence against relevant person by person in authority).”.

Short title and commencement 6. (1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2019.

(2)This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Justice and Equality may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

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