The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan today received cabinet approval to publish the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 to strengthen Ireland’s counter-terrorism laws.
The Terrorist Offences Bill 2025 will allow for the prosecution of a broader range of terrorist activities in light of the evolving nature of terrorism.
These include terrorist acts with a cross-border element and cyber-attacks where the aim is to cause widespread harm.
This bill will bring Ireland’s counter-terrorism laws into line with those of other EU Member States. This alignment will facilitate Ireland’s participation in enhanced counter-terrorism networks across the EU, enabling An Garda Síochána to tap into those networks to respond to both domestic and cross-border terrorist threats.
Speaking following the cabinet meeting, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:
“I am very pleased to receive cabinet approval to publish this important piece of legislation. It will strengthen Ireland’s laws by broadening the scope of prosecutable offences in respect of terrorist activity and marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland’s counter-terrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorist threats.
“The bill will criminalise three new terrorist offences targeting the foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon:
– receiving training for the purpose of terrorism;
– travelling for the purpose of terrorism; and
– organising or facilitating travel for the purpose of terrorism.
“It also permits courts, when sentencing a person convicted of recruiting or providing training for terrorism, to treat as an aggravating factor that the offence was committed against a child.
“I am pleased to be progressing this legislation in line with the commitment contained in the Programme for Government.”
