Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007

What is this act about?

This law amends existing criminal laws related to sexual offences, specifically focusing on the protection of children and mentally impaired individuals from sexual exploitation and increasing penalties for certain offences.

Who it applies to: Individuals who solicit or importune children (under 17 years) or mentally impaired persons for sexual offences; Individuals who meet or travel to meet a child for sexual exploitation.

Deadlines:

Individuals who solicit or importune children (under 17 years) or mentally impaired persons for sexual offences.
Soliciting or importuning a child (under 17 years) or a mentally impaired person for sexual offences is an offence.
Penalties for soliciting or importuning can be a fine up to €5,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months on summary conviction, or a fine or imprisonment up to 5 years on indictment.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Criminal law
Articles: 7
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Soliciting or importuning children or mentally impaired persons for sexual offences.
The application of certain enactments to new and amended sexual offences.
Amendments to existing laws concerning sexual offences, child trafficking, and pornography.
Meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation, both within and outside the State.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals who solicit or importune children (under 17 years) or mentally impaired persons for sexual offences.
Individuals who meet or travel to meet a child for sexual exploitation.
Citizens of the State or those ordinarily resident in the State who commit such offences outside the State.

What are the key points?

Soliciting or importuning a child (under 17 years) or a mentally impaired person for sexual offences is an offence.
Penalties for soliciting or importuning can be a fine up to €5,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months on summary conviction, or a fine or imprisonment up to 5 years on indictment.
Meeting or travelling to meet a child for sexual exploitation is an offence, punishable by imprisonment up to 14 years on indictment.
"Sexual exploitation" includes inviting, inducing, or coercing a child into prostitution, child pornography, or any sexual activity that is an offence.

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Legal text

Contents (7)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 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 2007 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 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 6 of 2007 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2007 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

1.Definitions.

Section 2

2.Soliciting or importuning for purposes of commission of sexual offence.

Section 3

3.Application of certain enactments.

Section 4

4.Amendment of certain enactments.

Section 5

5.Amendment of Act of 2006.

Section 6

6.Meeting child for purpose of sexual exploitation.

Section 7

7.Short title.

Acts Referred to Bail Act 1997 1997, No. 16 Children Act 2001 2001, No. 24 Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 1998, No. 22 Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 1995, No. 32 Criminal Evidence Act 1992 1992, No. 12 Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935 1935, No. 6 Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 1981, No. 10 Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 1990, No. 32 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 1993, No. 20 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 2006, No. 15 Sex Offenders Act 2001 2001, No. 18 Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 1996, No. 38 Number 6 of 2007 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) (AMENDMENT) ACT 2007 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 1993, THE CHILD TRAFFICKING AND PORNOGRAPHY ACT 1998 AND THE CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2006; AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH. [7th March, 2007] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Definitions.

1.— In this Act— “ Act of 1981 ” means Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981; “Act of 1990” means the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 ; “ Act of 1993 ” means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 ; “ Act of 2006 ” means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 .

Soliciting or importuning for purposes of commission of sexual offence.

2.— The Act of 1993 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 6 (inserted by section 250 of the Children Act 2001 ): “6.— (1) A person who solicits or importunes a child (whether or not for the purposes of prostitution) for the purposes of the commission of an act that would constitute an offence— (a) under section 2 or 3 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 , or (b) referred to in section 2 of the Act of 1990, shall be guilty of an offence.

(2)A person who solicits or importunes a person who is mentally impaired (whether or not for the purposes of prostitution) for the purposes of the commission of an act that would constitute an offence— (a) under section 5 of this Act, or (b) referred to in section 2 of the Act of 1990, shall be guilty of an offence.

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both, or (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both.

(4)In this section— ‘Act of 1990’ means the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990 ; ‘ child ’ means a person under the age of 17 years; ‘ mentally impaired ’ has the same meaning as it has in section 5 of this Act.”.

Application of certain enactments.

3.— (1) Section 4A of the Act of 1981 is amended, in subsection (6), by the insertion after “an offence under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 ” (inserted by section 6(2) of the Act of 2006) of “an offence under section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 ”.

(2)References in section 3 of the Act of 1981 to jury shall, in the case of summary proceedings for an offence under section 6 (inserted by section 2 ), be construed as references to court.

(3)Sections 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the Act of 1981 shall apply to an offence under section 6 of the Act of 1993 subject to the modification that references in any of those sections to— (a) sexual assault offence shall be construed as including references to an offence under section 6 of the Act of 1993, and (b) rape offence shall be construed as including references to an offence under section 6 of the Act of 1993.

(4)

Section 26

of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 is amended, in subsection (3)(b), by the substitution of “an offence under section 6 (inserted by section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)(Amendment) Act 2007) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 , or of an offence under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 ” for “unlawful carnal knowledge under section 1 or 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 ”.

Amendment of certain enactments.

4.— (1)

Section 2

of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 is amended, in the definition of “sexual offence”, by the insertion of the following paragraph: “(aa) section 6 (inserted by section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 ;”.

(2)The Schedule to the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph: “2. Section 6 (inserted by section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 .”.

(3)The Schedule to the Bail Act 1997 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph: “12B. An offence under section 6 (inserted by section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 .”.

(4)The Schedule to the Sex Offenders Act 2001 is amended by the insertion of the following paragraph: “21. An offence under section 6 (inserted by section 2 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 .”.

Amendment of Act of 2006.

5.— (1) Section 3 of the Act of 2006 is amended— (a) in paragraph (a) of subsection (2), by the substitution of “5 years” for “2 years”, (b) in paragraph (b) of subsection (2), by the substitution of “10 years” for “4 years”, (c) in paragraph (a) of subsection (4), by the substitution of “10 years” for “4 years”, and (d) in paragraph (b) of subsection (4), by the substitution of “15 years” for “7 years”.

(2)Section 6 of the Act of 2006 is amended by the insertion of the following subsection: “(1A) References in section 3 of the Act of 1981 to jury shall, in the case of summary proceedings for an offence under this Act, be construed as references to court.”.

Meeting child for purpose of sexual exploitation.

6.—

Section 3

of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 is amended by— (a) the insertion of the following subsections: “(2A) Any person who within the State— (a) intentionally meets, or travels with the intention of meeting, a child, having met or communicated with that child on 2 or more previous occasions, and (b) does so for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation of the child, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years. (2B) Any person, being a citizen of the State or being ordinarily resident in the State, who outside the State— (a) intentionally meets, or travels with the intention of meeting, a child, having met or communicated with that child on 2 or more previous occasions, and (b) does so for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation of the child, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.”, and (b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3): “(3) In this section ‘ sexual exploitation ’ means, in relation to a child— (a) inviting, inducing or coercing the child to engage in prostitution or the production of child pornography, (b) using the child for prostitution or the production of child pornography, (c) inviting, inducing or coercing the child to participate in any sexual activity which is an offence under any enactment, (d) the commission of any such offence against the child, or (e) inviting, inducing or coercing the child to participate in or observe any activity of a sexual or indecent nature.”.

Short title.

7.— This Act may be cited as the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Act 2007 .

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