(LRC Revised)

Number 45 of 1926

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT 1926

REVISED

Updated to 11 March 2026

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative

consolidation of the

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926

. It is prepared by the Law

Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the

Law Reform Commission Act

1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and

consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026

(5/2026), enacted 12 March 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and including

the

Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 (Section 3) (Exemption of Apparatus for Mobile Communication

Services on Board Vessels) Order 2026

(S.I. No. 88 of 2026), made 11 March 2026, were

considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

45

of

1926

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT

1926

REVISED

Updated to 11 March 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Preliminary.

Section

1.

Short title.

2.

Definitions.

2A.

Minister for Transport to

consult other authorities before making regulations or orders.

Part

I.

Wireless Telegraphy and Signalling.

3.

Restrictions on possession of wireless telegraphy apparatus.

3A.

Regulation of local

programmes for distribution on cable systems.

(

Repealed

)

4.

Restrictions on maintenance of signalling stations.

5.

Grant of licences.

6.

Regulations in regard to licences.

7.

Obligation to furnish certain information.

8.

Issue of search warrants.

9.

Regulations as to wireless telegraphy in ships and aircraft.

10.

Government control of wireless telegraphy, etc., in emergencies.

10A.

Forfeiture of apparatus; supplementary provisions.

11.

Prohibition of certain classes of messages, etc.

12.

Restrictions on user of apparatus for wireless telegraphy.

12A.

Regulations as to radiation of electro-magnetic energy, etc.

12B.

Deliberate interference.

13.

Prosecution of offences.

14.

Offences committed in ships or aircraft.

15.

Repeals and preservation of existing licences and payments.

16.

Expenses.

Part

II.

Broadcasting.

17.

Maintenance of broadcasting

stations by the Minister.

(

Repealed

)

18.

Charging of fees for

broadcasting.

(

Repealed

)

19.

Advisory committee.

(

Repealed

)

20.

Expenses.

(

Repealed

)

Acts Referred to

Courts of Justice Act 1924

No. 10 of 1924

Courts of Justice Act 1926

No. 1 of 1926

Number

45

of

1926

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT

1926

REVISED

Updated to 11 March 2026

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE REGULATION AND CONTROL OF WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ON

LAND, AT SEA, AND IN THE AIR, AND FOR THE REGULATION AND CONTROL OF CERTAIN CLASSES

OF VISUAL AND SOUND SIGNALLING STATIONS, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE

OF STATE BROADCASTING STATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO WIRELESS

TELEGRAPHY, SIGNALLING, AND BROADCASTING RESPECTIVELY. [24

th December

, 1926.]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF

F1

[

THE

STATE

]

AS FOLLOWS:—

Annotations

Amendments

F1

Substituted (15.05.2007) by

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007

(22/2007), s. 4(2) and

sch. 1 part 1 item 11, S.I. No. 224 of 2007, subject to transitional provisions in

s. 4(4) and sch. 3.

Modifications (not altering

text)

C1

Application of collectively

cited

Wireless Telegraphy Acts

restricted (20.01.2026) by

European Union

(Radio Equipment) Regulations 2026

(S.I. No. 14 of 2026), reg. 60(2).

Application of the Wireless

Telegraphy Act, 1926

60. ...

(2) Nothing in the Wireless

Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988, shall operate to restrict or prevent any person

from working or using an apparatus for wireless telegraphy, which is lawfully in

their possession, or which is otherwise in compliance with the licensing

requirements of those Acts for its intended purpose where it complies with the

provisions of the Directive, save where such restriction or prevention is related

to the effective and appropriate use of the radio frequency spectrum, avoidance of

harmful interference or matters relating to public health.

C2

Application of Act

restricted (9.06.2023) by

Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development

Agency (Amendment) Act 2023

(4/2023), s. 61(1), S.I. No. 299 of 2023.

Application of Part

61.

(1) This Part applies

in respect of a licence notwithstanding anything to the contrary in—

(a) the Act of 1926,

(b) any Regulations made under

section 6 (inserted by section 182 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Broadcasting Act

2009) of the Act of 1926, and

(c) the licence itself.

...

C3

References construed

(6.09.2022) by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) Regulations

2022

(S.I. No. 444 of 2022), reg. 113(2), (3).

Transitional

arrangements

113. A measure that was in force

under the Framework Regulations, the Authorisation Regulations, the Access

Regulations or the Universal Service Regulations (“the 2011 Regulations”)

immediately before the commencement of these Regulations shall continue in force

as if it was made under these Regulations.

(2) Licences, rights of use, or

authorisations granted under the Act of 1926 or any instrument made under that Act

in accordance with any provision of the 2011 Regulations, that were in force

immediately before the commencement of these Regulations shall be construed as

licences granted in accordance with these Regulations.

(3) Any reference in the Act of

1926 or any instrument made under that Act to —

(a) the Framework

Regulations,

(b) the Access Regulations,

(c) the Authorisation

Regulations, or

(d) the Universal Service

Regulations,

shall be read as a reference to

these Regulations.

C4

Application of Act

restricted (8.09.1997) by

European Communities (Satellite Telecommunications

Services) Regulations 1997

(S.I. No. 372 of 1997), reg. 3.

3. The Wireless Telegraphy Acts

1926 to 1972, and the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act 1988 (No. 19 of

1988), shall not apply to the placing on the market of satellite earth station

equipment.

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (6.06.2017) by

European Union (Radio

Equipment) Regulations 2017

(S.I. No. 248 of 2017), reg. 46(2); revoked

(20.01.2026) by

European Union (Radio Equipment) Regulations 2026

(S.I. No.

14 of 2026), reg. 61(a).

E2

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (1.07.2011) by

European Communities

(Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations

2011

(S.I. No. 335 of 2011), reg. 16(17); revoked (6.06.2023) by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) Regulations 2022

(S.I.

No. 444 of 2022), reg. 116(c), subject to transitional provisions in regs. 114,

115, as inserted by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) (Amendment)

Regulations 2023

(S.I. No. 300 of 2023), reg. 2(f).

E3

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (25.07.2003) by

European Communities

(Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations

2003

(S.I. No. 306 of 2003), reg. 16(14), in effect as per reg. 1(2);

revoked (1.07.2011) by

European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks

and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations 2011

(S.I. No. 335 of 2011), reg.

28(2)(a), subject to transitional provisions in reg. 27.

E4

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (5.06.2001) by

European Communities

(Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Regulations

2001

(S.I. No. 240 of 2001), reg. 20(2); revoked (6.06.2017) by

European

Union (Radio Equipment) Regulations 2017

(S.I. No. 248 of 2017), reg. 47,

subject to transitional provisions in reg. 48.

Annotations

Amendments

F1

Substituted (15.05.2007) by

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007

(22/2007), s. 4(2) and

sch. 1 part 1 item 11, S.I. No. 224 of 2007, subject to transitional provisions in

s. 4(4) and sch. 3.

Modifications (not altering

text)

C1

Application of collectively

cited

Wireless Telegraphy Acts

restricted (20.01.2026) by

European Union

(Radio Equipment) Regulations 2026

(S.I. No. 14 of 2026), reg. 60(2).

Application of the Wireless

Telegraphy Act, 1926

60. ...

(2) Nothing in the Wireless

Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988, shall operate to restrict or prevent any person

from working or using an apparatus for wireless telegraphy, which is lawfully in

their possession, or which is otherwise in compliance with the licensing

requirements of those Acts for its intended purpose where it complies with the

provisions of the Directive, save where such restriction or prevention is related

to the effective and appropriate use of the radio frequency spectrum, avoidance of

harmful interference or matters relating to public health.

C2

Application of Act

restricted (9.06.2023) by

Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development

Agency (Amendment) Act 2023

(4/2023), s. 61(1), S.I. No. 299 of 2023.

Application of Part

61.

(1) This Part applies

in respect of a licence notwithstanding anything to the contrary in—

(a) the Act of 1926,

(b) any Regulations made under

section 6 (inserted by section 182 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Broadcasting Act

2009) of the Act of 1926, and

(c) the licence itself.

...

C3

References construed

(6.09.2022) by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) Regulations

2022

(S.I. No. 444 of 2022), reg. 113(2), (3).

Transitional

arrangements

113. A measure that was in force

under the Framework Regulations, the Authorisation Regulations, the Access

Regulations or the Universal Service Regulations (“the 2011 Regulations”)

immediately before the commencement of these Regulations shall continue in force

as if it was made under these Regulations.

(2) Licences, rights of use, or

authorisations granted under the Act of 1926 or any instrument made under that Act

in accordance with any provision of the 2011 Regulations, that were in force

immediately before the commencement of these Regulations shall be construed as

licences granted in accordance with these Regulations.

(3) Any reference in the Act of

1926 or any instrument made under that Act to —

(a) the Framework

Regulations,

(b) the Access Regulations,

(c) the Authorisation

Regulations, or

(d) the Universal Service

Regulations,

shall be read as a reference to

these Regulations.

C4

Application of Act

restricted (8.09.1997) by

European Communities (Satellite Telecommunications

Services) Regulations 1997

(S.I. No. 372 of 1997), reg. 3.

3. The Wireless Telegraphy Acts

1926 to 1972, and the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act 1988 (No. 19 of

1988), shall not apply to the placing on the market of satellite earth station

equipment.

Editorial Notes

E1

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (6.06.2017) by

European Union (Radio

Equipment) Regulations 2017

(S.I. No. 248 of 2017), reg. 46(2); revoked

(20.01.2026) by

European Union (Radio Equipment) Regulations 2026

(S.I. No.

14 of 2026), reg. 61(a).

E2

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (1.07.2011) by

European Communities

(Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations

2011

(S.I. No. 335 of 2011), reg. 16(17); revoked (6.06.2023) by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) Regulations 2022

(S.I.

No. 444 of 2022), reg. 116(c), subject to transitional provisions in regs. 114,

115, as inserted by

European Union (Electronic Communications Code) (Amendment)

Regulations 2023

(S.I. No. 300 of 2023), reg. 2(f).

E3

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (25.07.2003) by

European Communities

(Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations

2003

(S.I. No. 306 of 2003), reg. 16(14), in effect as per reg. 1(2);

revoked (1.07.2011) by

European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks

and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations 2011

(S.I. No. 335 of 2011), reg.

28(2)(a), subject to transitional provisions in reg. 27.

E4

Previous affecting

provision: application of Act restricted (5.06.2001) by

European Communities

(Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Regulations

2001

(S.I. No. 240 of 2001), reg. 20(2); revoked (6.06.2017) by

European

Union (Radio Equipment) Regulations 2017

(S.I. No. 248 of 2017), reg. 47,

subject to transitional provisions in reg. 48.

Preliminary.

Section

1.

Short title.

2.

Definitions.

2A.

Minister for Transport to

consult other authorities before making regulations or orders.

Part

I.

Wireless Telegraphy and Signalling.

3.

Restrictions on possession of wireless telegraphy apparatus.

3A.

Regulation of local

programmes for distribution on cable systems.

(

Repealed

)

4.

Restrictions on maintenance of signalling stations.

5.

Grant of licences.

6.

Regulations in regard to licences.

7.

Obligation to furnish certain information.

8.

Issue of search warrants.

9.

Regulations as to wireless telegraphy in ships and aircraft.

10.

Government control of wireless telegraphy, etc., in emergencies.

10A.

Forfeiture of apparatus; supplementary provisions.

11.

Prohibition of certain classes of messages, etc.

12.

Restrictions on user of apparatus for wireless telegraphy.

12A.

Regulations as to radiation of electro-magnetic energy, etc.

12B.

Deliberate interference.

13.

Prosecution of offences.

14.

Offences committed in ships or aircraft.

15.

Repeals and preservation of existing licences and payments.

16.

Expenses.

Part

II.

Broadcasting.

17.

Maintenance of broadcasting

stations by the Minister.

(

Repealed

)

18.

Charging of fees for

broadcasting.

(

Repealed

)

19.

Advisory committee.

(

Repealed

)

20.

Expenses.

(

Repealed

)

Number

45

of

1926