Colm Brophy
Dublin South-West · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The Minister has outlined very clearly our intention in relation to this matter. We have always been very clear that the ARP would be a temporary provision. It was introduced in 2022 as a response to a crisis, always with the view that it would be phased out. That remains the case.”
“It is important to look at the ARP in the context of what is happening here. We are reducing the payment back to the original rate in order to fulfil the original intention. We thank the people for the generosity they showed in opening their homes to Ukrainians who came to live with us here in Ireland.”
“It is important, as the Minister has mentioned, to recognise and thank all of the people who participated in the scheme, and to recognise the work of the Irish Red Cross and the many people who have made the scheme a success. We recognise that there are difficulties with schemes, and that is why this one has been under constant review.”
“What we want to work towards is a solution which recognises that contribution and which examines how, in the longer term, we can work with the Ukrainian people in our country and with the Government of Ukraine in order to ensure that a pathway exists for them to either continue to live here or, if they so choose, to return home.”
“lreland ratified the convention on International Women's Day, 8 March 2019. Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2022-2026 is structured around the four pillars of the convention, namely, prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination.”
“Some of the treaty provisions relate to the justice sphere and, therefore, Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In light of Ireland’s position under Protocol 21, the court determined that two decisions were necessary, one to cover areas coming within scope of Protocol 21 where an opt-in is required and another t…”
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“What we want to work towards is a solution which recognises that contribution and which examines how, in the longer term, we can work with the Ukrainian people in our country and with the Government of Ukraine in order to ensure that a pathway exists for them to either continue to live here or, if they so choose, to return home. All of the necessary supports in that regard will be put in place by the Government. Deputies' approval for the motion is important, particularly as it will lead to a more equitable and better outcome for everybody, including Ukrainians in our country.”
“It is important, as the Minister has mentioned, to recognise and thank all of the people who participated in the scheme, and to recognise the work of the Irish Red Cross and the many people who have made the scheme a success. We recognise that there are difficulties with schemes, and that is why this one has been under constant review. It is also why we have taken the decision to see the approval of the Dáil to reduce the payment to €400 and why we put other measures in place. It is important to recognise that Ukrainian people play an incredible role at so many levels within our society. They have come here, endeared themselves to the Irish people and made a great contribution to our country in a few short years.”
“It is important to look at the ARP in the context of what is happening here. We are reducing the payment back to the original rate in order to fulfil the original intention. We thank the people for the generosity they showed in opening their homes to Ukrainians who came to live with us here in Ireland. The latter is part of Ireland's ongoing support for Ukraine as it endures the totally unacceptable war of aggression being waged against it by Russia. We want a situation whereby people will have the ability to share their homes with Ukrainians. Other measures are in place in this regard, including the rent a room scheme. People can continue to have arrangements with Ukrainians if they so wish. What we are bringing to a close is the temporary nature of the ARP.”
“The Minister has outlined very clearly our intention in relation to this matter. We have always been very clear that the ARP would be a temporary provision. It was introduced in 2022 as a response to a crisis, always with the view that it would be phased out. That remains the case. The planned closure date for the scheme is March of next year. As the Minister indicated, we have engaged in a number of processes with a view to looking at the longer term situation for Ukrainian people who are in our country, who have made a home for themselves here and who we want to continue to encourage to participate in Ireland in every way. The measure before the House will enable that. However, we believe the time for the temporary scheme has come to an end. Therefore, March 2027 remains the date for bringing it to an end.”
“Concluding this opt-in will allow Ireland to participate fully in the EU's activities related to its status as party to the convention within its own right. This step will serve at international level to reaffirm Ireland's commitment to the convention and the fight against all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in the context of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I am grateful for the support shown by this House for the motion.”
“I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for facilitating the motion this evening, and the Deputies for their input. I wish to take the opportunity to express my appreciation at the unwavering commitment shown by this House to the fight against domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I take on board all the comments made by Deputies throughout the debate. The Government is taking unprecedented action across Departments and agencies and with the support of civil society to tackle the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Our national approach is underpinned by the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention, namely prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination.”
“Concluding this opt-in at this point will serve to underscore Ireland's commitment to the Istanbul Convention and determination in facing the challenge, shared by all EU member states, of combating all forms domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors are fully supported. I commend the motion to the House.”
“The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is also introducing comprehensive reforming legislation in this area, including the introduction of the domestic violence register, Jennie's Law. Taken together, these national measures demonstrate real, tangible progress at national level across funding, legislation, prevention and victim support. Internationally, Ireland will use its Presidency of the Council of the European Union to maintain a spotlight on the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which is so endemic in societies across Europe.”
“lreland ratified the convention on International Women's Day, 8 March 2019. Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2022-2026 is structured around the four pillars of the convention, namely, prevention, protection, prosecution and policy co-ordination. The Istanbul Convention is therefore a very important underpinning to the Government's zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, ensuring all victims and survivors can access the support, protection and justice they need. Domestically, we are taking unprecedented whole-of-government action to tackle the scourge of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This action is supported by record funding of almost €80 million under budget 2026, ensuring sustained support for front-line services.”
“The obligations arising from the EU's ratification of the convention fall primarily on the EU institutions. For example, the Council of Europe’s expert body, GREVIO, is currently carrying out a baseline evaluation of how the EU’s public administration has implemented the convention. However, these activities also require consideration and oversight by member states from time to time. In practical terms, Ireland's ability to contribute is complicated by the fact that we are currently bound by one relevant decision but not the other. While these issues may be seen as somewhat technical in nature, this Council decision should be understood in its broader context. The Istanbul Convention is the gold standard international measure on combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”
“Some of the treaty provisions relate to the justice sphere and, therefore, Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In light of Ireland’s position under Protocol 21, the court determined that two decisions were necessary, one to cover areas coming within scope of Protocol 21 where an opt-in is required and another to cover all other matters. Ireland did not opt into this decision when it was initially proposed in order to allow time for a careful examination with the benefit of advice from the Office of the Attorney General. However, we have consistently signalled our intention to proceed with this opt-in, subject to legal advice. In the intervening time, advice has been sought and considered, which has confirmed that there is no impediment to concluding the opt-in at this point.”
“This evening I am seeking the approval of the House to conclude an opt-in under Article 4 of Protocol 21 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in relation to EU Council Decision 2023/1076. The decision concerns the EU’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention, which is the Council of Europe's treaty on combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The decision was adopted by the EU institutions as a step in the process of the EU becoming a party to the convention in its own right. Detailed legal consideration was given to the implications of this initiative at the time, including a comprehensive analysis by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which informed the appropriate technical approach to be taken by the EU.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 of 1 June 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 9th June, 2026. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this motion.”
“I thank them and congratulate them for highlighting this important area. While I recognise the Department has a very strong position on this, what the Senators have outlined is important. Even if it is a relatively small thing, the significance of what it says to consumers is a very important message that needs to be sent out there to electricity customers. The Government fully agrees with this concern. It proposes that the current measures in place to prepare for future weather events; invest in the resilience of the grid to future weather events; and minimise the cost of electricity for consumers represent an excellent approach which the Government is taking.”
“However, there is no requirement that the bills are structured in this way, or that any standing charge should have a fixed relationship to the network charges paid by an electricity supplier. The system proposed by the motion would require extensive legal and regulatory change, including primary legislation. There are also significant practical and structural challenges that require consideration. I wish to conclude by reiterating that this Government is aware that people are concerned about both energy security and energy costs at this unprecedented time. An important element of security is the continuity of supply of electricity in storms or other adverse weather events. This motion draws attention to this crucial issue. Having listened to the Senators today, they have made a really excellent case.”
“Each company has its own different approach to pricing decisions over time, in accordance with factors such as their overall company strategic direction and developments in their cost base. The cost of investing in, maintaining and operating the grid is recovered through network charges levied by ESB Networks and EirGrid on electricity suppliers. These network charges are regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to ensure that they are as low as possible and represent value for money. Electricity suppliers recover the wholesale cost of electricity, network charges and other system and supply costs through their bills to electricity consumers. These bills often consist of a variable per unit element and a fixed standing charge.”
“The motion calls on electricity suppliers to mitigate the effect on households and businesses of supply interruptions by crediting affected customers for their standing charges during the period of supply interruption. The benefit for the affected customers would be relatively small. Standing charges for households are of the order of €250 per annum. In addition, the proposed change would require a completely new form of regulation in the electricity market. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges, is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned.”
“This will enable ESB Networks to improve the robustness of its network planning, customer service, vulnerable customer protection, organisational resilience and storm damage repair works. The Government is supporting the price review 6 investment programme by providing an unprecedented €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and ESB. This will allow EirGrid and ESB to finance their €18.9 billion investment at the lowest possible cost. I and my colleagues in government believe that this approach of minimising the extent of power outages as a result of storms by preparing better bases and investing in the resilience of the system is the best way to limit the negative effects on households and businesses.”
“The price review 6 grid investment programme was approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in December 2025. It approves an investment of up to €18.9 billion in our electricity grid over the coming five years. This represents the largest ever investment in our grid and includes significantly increased spending on asset management, underground cables and the replacement of ageing overhead lines and poles. This investment is critical in order that we can maintain a fit-for-purpose grid and have the strength to reduce the potential for outages. Price review 6 approves nearly €990 million of investment to improve storm resilience, building on the winter 2025 grid resilience plan to implement lessons learned from Storm Éowyn.”
“ESB Networks already takes preventative action by clearing corridors around lines when they pass through forests. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is bringing forward legislation to enhance their powers to clear these corridors through forests. The Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is being progressed by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment as part of a wider programme of work to strengthen the resilience of Ireland’s electricity network in the context of climate change and increasingly severe storm events. The overarching objective is to ensure that overhead electricity networks and forestry can coexist in a manner that delivers a secure, reliable and climate-resilient electricity supply for homes, businesses and communities across our country.”
“This had significant negative impacts for these electricity users ranging from disruption and discomfort to hardship and significant risks to the most vulnerable customers, but thanks to the outstanding efforts of the grid companies, ESB Networks and EirGrid and a range of other public bodies, the supplies were restored quickly, and the effects of the interruptions were mitigated. The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment met regularly with the responders and took steps to ensure that lessons for the response to future storms would be identified and put into effect. The network companies enhanced their winter preparedness plans for 2026 and beyond, developing contingency plans and stockpiling key supplies to respond to storms. A key risk from storms is that trees will fall and damage electricity lines.”
“The Minister has engaged with the four biggest energy retailers in recent months to ensure that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers in difficulty. In addition, the Department of Social Protection can provide support through the additional needs payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulties with fuel bills. I fully share the concerns of Senators about the problem of electricity supplies to households and businesses being interrupted by storms and other adverse weather events. In January 2025, our electricity network suffered unprecedented levels of damage from Storm Éowyn. The electricity supply for thousands of homes and businesses was interrupted for periods ranging from hours to a week or more.”
“There were also enhanced social protection payments, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate to €38 per week and an expansion in the eligibility rules, and a record allocation of €640 million for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, retrofit schemes, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. Being able to access this is really impacting households on a daily basis. It includes €340 million for the warmer homes scheme, which provides fully funded upgrades for those in energy poverty. I also wish to note the range of protections in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills. Anyone who is struggling with their bill is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. Suppliers will not disconnect customers that engage with them.”
“I am sorry, I did not interrupt the Senator so please, a little courtesy. As early as budget 2026, the Government has been putting in place measures to help households faced with increasing energy costs. The measures in the budget included an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity saving households up to €100 per year. It is part of the Government recognising that we want to put permanent solutions in place, not gimmicks. The Opposition loves a bit of gimmickry but we want permanent solutions.”
“Before I do that, I am going to take a moment to address the ludicrous concept that data centres do not have a real economic benefit and impact on our country. Big tech - in case some people like to forget this - is actually a major employer. There are thousands of families the length and breadth of this country listening to this attack on their jobs-----”
“I thank the Senators for raising these important matters. I welcome this opportunity to discuss how to protect households and businesses that suffer a loss of electricity supply due to storms or other adverse weather events. This motion calls for electricity suppliers to credit households and businesses with a refund of part of the standing charge amount of their electricity bills during the periods of electricity disruption. The context for this is the widespread concern about the cost of electricity to households and businesses. Before considering the specific proposal in the motion, I will recall the comprehensive set of actions already taken to address affordability in energy, including electricity.”
“Of those, 435 were assigned to stations in County Kildare, with 59 members assigned to Newbridge station. The gardaí are supported by 64 civilian staff and 12 Garda reserves in this division. It should be noted that An Garda Síochána polices on a divisional basis rather than a station basis. The resources from across the division are utilised where required to provide a policing response. These resources are further supported by regional and national units, as required. I will convey the Senator's remarks to the Minister, as I know the Senator will herself.”
“I thank the Senator very much. I totally agree with her. The key point she made was that not all young people are involved in antisocial behaviour. It is a minority of people who are involved in it. It is very much a matter of making sure that the resources are there from An Garda Síochána, the support services and the various stakeholders in the community to ensure that when this group, which is a small group, is committing the type of antisocial behaviour that can destroy a community a response is in place. The Senator said that the Minister was with her and down visiting. The operational deployment of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I am, however, advised that at the end of May, from the latest data available, 533 gardaí of all ranks were assigned to the Carlow-Kildare division.”
“There has been a reduction of 31% in the number of children in detention over the past ten years. With the official opening of the POINT youth diversion project in Tipperary on 18 June, youth diversion is available to all children and young people across the country. There are currently 92 youth diversion projects and 14 targeted youth diversion projects across the country. These are co-funded by the Department of justice and the European Union. With these funds, these projects employ dedicated youth justice workers who respond daily to the needs of young people across the country. I appreciate that the Senator is talking specifically of the incidents she raised, but the national response is also being mirrored at local level.”
“The Minister recently appointed the membership of the final LCSP in Limerick on 9 June, meaning that all 36 of the partnerships are now formally established. Each LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan. The partnerships will take a strategic approach to their work, so that issues arising can be dealt with in a co-ordinated manner and addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community. While there has been an approximate 25% increase in the population of 12- to 17-year-olds over the past ten years, the number of children coming to the attention of the Garda national youth diversion bureau has remained steady, pointing to a reduction in youth offending. Between 2012 and 2022, there has been a drop in total criminal incidents involving children of 35%.”
“The budget allocation for youth justice measures has almost doubled from 2020 to 2026, with a significant allocation of €7.3 million in additional core Exchequer funding for youth justice measures announced as part of budget 2026, bringing the total allocation in this area to €43 million. Strengthening the laws around antisocial behaviour orders enables swifter action by gardaí in such cases. The national roll-out and deployment of body-worn cameras for gardaí is also a very important part. Local community safety partnerships, LCSPs, bring together a broad range of relevant stakeholders, including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, local residents, community representatives, business and education representatives and a range of statutory agencies, including the HSE and Tusla in each local authority.”
“I am conscious of the very damaging impact, which the Senator clearly outlined in her contribution, it can have on our communities. Along with increased Garda recruitment and resources, the Government is taking a range of targeted and integrated measures to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour generally. They include introducing community safety partnerships around the country to develop community safety plans for every area, which touches on the point the Senator made about community involvement being central to tacking this. They also include continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures to reduce youth offending and improve safety for everyone in the community.”
“I am here on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan. I know the Senator has engaged directly with him on this issue. He is very aware of her concerns in this area. Unfortunately he cannot be here today. The Government is committed to the principle that wherever they live in Ireland, people should feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for this Government. The Government wants every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in. The Minister secured a record investment in budget 2026 of €2.74 billion for An Garda Síochána. Antisocial behaviour is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts.”
“Section 13 is a standard provision providing for the Short Title of the Bill once enacted, the collective citation for the Bill and related Acts, and the commencement date. With that, I am pleased to commend the Bill to the House.”
“Section 12 of the Bill provides for the insertion of a new paragraph 6A to this Part, inserting into this list offences under sections 3 and 4 of the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017. The effect of this is that the offence of interference with an information system or data without lawful authority would constitute terrorist activity if intended to seriously intimidate a population, unduly compel a government or an international organisation to perform or abstain from performing an act, or seriously destabilise or destroy the fundamental political, constitutional, economic or social structures of a state or an international organisation.”
“Again, section 43 of the 2005 Act already does this for a range of terrorist offences where the Director of Public Prosecutions consents. However, the terrorist financing offence was not fully encompassed by this, and so the amendment rectifies this gap. Section 11 replaces the text of the 2002 European Council framework decision on combating terrorism in Schedule 1 with that of the 2017 EU directive on combating terrorism. It also deletes Schedule 1A containing the text of European Council framework decision 2008/919/JHA, which is no longer in force. Section 12 amends Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the principal Act. Part 1 lists certain offences already on our Statute Book that can be considered terrorist offences in certain contexts and so form part of the definition of "terrorist activity" in the 2005 Act.”
“Section 10 builds on the amendments in section 9 in relation to extra-territorial jurisdiction of the terrorist financing offence in order to meet requirements of the directive. It amends section 43 of the 2005 Act, which relates to proceedings for offences committed outside the State, requiring that the terrorist financing offence, when committed outside the State, may only be proceeded against with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions, as is required for the other terrorist offences in the 2005 Act. It also provides that the State can assert jurisdiction over the offence when committed outside the State in circumstances where the State has refused to surrender or extradite a person suspected or convicted of such an offence to another member state or to a third country.”
“This section also provides that, when sentencing on conviction for the offences of recruitment to terrorism or providing training for terrorism, a court may consider as an aggravating factor the fact that the offence was committed against a child. Section 9 relates to section 13 of the principal Act, which deals with the offence of financing terrorism. It enhances this offence provision to meet the requirements of the directive, such as ensuring that it not be necessary that the funds in fact be used to commit terrorist offences nor that the offender know for which specific terrorist offence the funds are to be used when they commit terrorist financing. It also brings the terrorist financing offence within the jurisdictional requirements of the directive.”
“They also ensure that companies can receive fines on conviction of any of the offences under section 6 of the 2005 Act, clarify that penalties for the "attempt" and "threat" offences are linked to the same penalty provisions for the substantive offences being attempted or threatened, and involve a reformulation to the definition of "corresponding offence." The latter definition references criminal offences listed in Schedule 2 of the 2005 Act, the penalties for which are the first step to establishing the penalty for certain terrorist offences under the 2005 Act. The amendment redrafts the definition in the interest of clarity and precision.”
“The last aspect of section 7 stems from a requirement of the directive related to co-operation between member states when both may have jurisdiction to bring proceedings against an individual. The directive lays down factors that must be considered when arriving at a conclusion as to where the proceedings will take place, and this amendment lays down those considerations. Section 8 includes a range of amendments, this time to section 7 of the 2005 Act. In the round, they relate to providing penalties for terrorist offences newly introduced by this Bill - a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both - and ensuring that certain minimum sanctioning requirements required by the directive are met.”
“The amendment thus excludes the attempt of these acts from the ambit of the offence of attempting terrorism in the 2005 Act. Section 7 also includes a technical amendment to section 6 of the 2005 Act, moving the act of threatening terrorism to within the definition of terrorist activity found earlier in the Act. This is a structural change to how the offence is drafted, as advised by Parliamentary Counsel. Section 7 also reworks section 6(5) of the 2005 Act, which clarifies that the engagement by a person in any protest, advocacy or dissent, or in any strike, lockout or other industrial action, is not alone a sufficient basis for inferring that the person is committing an act with "terrorist intention". This subsection has been reformulated from its iteration in the 2005 Act to make the wording clearer.”
“There are certain terrorist acts, however, that while considered offences themselves, the attempt of such is excluded from being an offence. Attempting to threaten terrorism, attempting to possess explosive substances or firearms for terrorism purposes, attempting to provoke terrorist activity and attempting to organise or receive training for terrorism are not offences under the directive. This is down to the fact that in these cases, the substantive action that is being attempted can be considered an attempt itself, or an otherwise unfinished action in the pursuit of criminal harm. It would be illogical to criminalise attempting to attempt terrorism and a prosecution would invariably fail where the action being charged is too far removed from the actual criminal harm.”
“These criminalise travel to and from the State for the purposes of committing a terrorist offence, aiding and abetting another person to commit a terrorist offence, or providing training or receiving training for terrorism. They also make it an offence to knowingly organise or facilitate travel for those same purposes. Section 6 meets the requirement of the directive for fines as a penalty for companies that commit terrorist offences. This specific provision is providing for the offence, and sanction by way of a fine, of a body corporate directing the activities of a terrorist group. Section 7 relates to a range of amendments to section 6 of the 2005 Act, which is the main terrorist offences section. The first stems from a requirement in the directive to make it an offence to attempt terrorist acts.”
“These additional elements inserted into the new definition of this offence serve as safeguards to ensure that only those who set about deliberately inciting terrorism are captured by the offence. Section 4 sets out a new definition for the existing offence of providing training for terrorism and inserts a definition for the new offence of receiving training for terrorism. It also includes a standard provision allowing for the making of ministerial regulations. The power to make regulations is required in order that the Minister may, if deemed necessary, add to the list of prohibited weapons, techniques or methods covered by the "providing" and "receiving" training for terrorism offences. Section 5 sets out the new offence of travel for the purpose of terrorism and the offence of organising or facilitating travel for purpose of terrorism.”
“The revised definition sets out that distributing public messages that glorify terrorist activity can be considered as committing the offence of publicly provoking terrorism. This is in addition to distributing messages that more explicitly encourage terrorism. The definition also requires that other critical elements must be satisfied for the offence to be prosecuted. Those other critical elements are that it must be shown that the alleged offender possessed the requisite intention of inciting persons to commit a terrorist activity. It is also a requirement that the distribution or publication of a message inciting or glorifying terrorism must have given rise to the reasonable apprehension that the commission of a terrorist act would result.”
“It also signposts the existing offence of providing training for terrorism, which is redefined in the Bill and brings the definition of "terrorist group" into line with that of the directive. The section rephrases the definitions for terrorist activity and terrorist-linked activity, which forms the basis for the offence of engaging in those activities. The rephrasing is in pursuit of legal clarity and precision, particularly in relation to when those activities are committed outside the State, rather than a substantive change to their meaning. Section 3 provides for a revised definition of the offence of public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, which is an offence already in the 2005 Act, as required under the directive.”
“Section 1 simply clarifies that the references to the principal Act relate to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, which is being amended here. Section 2 amends section 4 of the 2005 Act by replacing references to the 2002 EU Council framework decision on combating terrorism with that of the 2017 EU directive on combating terrorism, which will be the new EU governing instrument underlying our international counterterrorism laws once this Bill is passed. This section signposts new definitions for offences found in the later sections of the Bill. This includes definitions for three new offences of receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism, and organising or otherwise facilitating travel for the purpose of terrorism.”
“This means that cross-border links between terrorism investigations and prosecutions will be more easily and readily identified and information more swiftly shared among member states via secure digital communication channels. Ultimately, that will lead to more terrorist acts being prevented and more terrorists being brought to justice. The Bill also contains a range of technical amendments to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005. These largely stem from the requirements of the directive that have been inserted to ensure full compliance with it, as well as amendments that restructure certain sections of the Act. The latter do not seek to change the substance of these sections, but, rather, are proposed to enhance legal clarity and precision. The Bill contains 13 sections and one Schedule.”
“Potential offenders should know that they will meet the full force of law should they proceed to carry out such attacks. I mentioned that this Bill will pave the way for Ireland’s participation in enhanced counterterrorism networks. Once enacted and when Ireland is fully participating in the EU directive on combating terrorism, which I spoke about earlier, we will be in a position to adopt subsequent EU counterterrorism measures. This includes partaking in a programme of modernisation occurring at Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, which co-ordinates investigations and information exchange in relation to cross-border crime across Europe. Its modernisation programme includes strengthening its counterterrorism register and case management system.”
“Furthermore, there must also be reasonable apprehension that the commission of a terrorist activity could, in fact, result. The Bill will also categorise cyber offences already on our Statute Book as terrorist offences, thereby allowing for extra years to be added to terms of imprisonment for those convicted in circumstances where such acts are intended to cause widespread harm. These are offences of interfering with or damaging data on IT systems, the result of which could be serious damage to the State or international organisations, major economic loss or the creation of a collective danger to the lives of citizens. In recent years, we have seen the destruction and devastation caused by cyberattacks on national infrastructure. These are grave affronts to our society, and it is appropriate that they be treated as terrorist offences.”