(LRC Revised)

Number 15 of 2006

CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2006

REVISED

Updated to 31 August 2024

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

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006

. 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

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal

Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024

(30/2024), enacted 23

July 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the

Waste Management

(Landfill Levy) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

(S.I. No. 442 of 2024), made 2

September 2024, were considered in the preparation of this revision.

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

15

of

2006

CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2006

REVISED

Updated to 31 August

2024

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1. Definitions.

2. Defilement of child under 15 years of age.

3. Defilement of child under 17 years of age.

3A. Offence by

person in authority.

4. Summary trial of offences.

5. Female child under 17 years of age not guilty of offence.

6. Application of certain enactments.

7. Amendment of certain enactments.

8. Repeals.

9. Short title.

SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Acts Referred to

Bail Act 1997

1997, No. 16

Children Act 2001

2001, No. 24

Criminal Evidence Act 1992

1992, No. 12

Criminal Law (Rape)(Amendment) Act 1990

1990, No. 32

Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981

1981, No. 10

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993

1993, No. 20

Criminal Law Act 1997

1997, No. 14

Criminal Law Amendment Act 1935

1935, No. 6

Sex Offenders Act 2001

2001, No. 18

Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Act 1996

1996, No. 38

Number

15

of

2006

CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT 2006

REVISED

Updated to 31 August

2024

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR OFFENCES IN RELATION TO THE COMMISSION OF SEXUAL ACTS WITH

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 17 YEARS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.

[2

nd June

, 2006]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Editorial Notes

E1

Offences under Act included in definition of “sexual offence” in

Criminal Evidence Act 1992

(12/1992), s. 2, (7.06.2008) by

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008

(8/2008), s. 12(a)(ii), commenced as per s. 15(2).

E2

Entitlement of complainant to free legal advice in a prosecution for an offence under

Act provided by

Civil Legal Aid Act 1995

(32/1995), s. 26(3)(b), as amended (7.03.2007) by

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)(Amendment) Act 2007

(6/2007), s. 3(4), commenced on enactment, and subsequently amended (20.07.2008)

by

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008

(14/2008), s. 78(b), S.I. No. 274 of 2008.

Annotations

Editorial Notes

E1

Offences under Act included in definition of “sexual offence” in

Criminal Evidence Act 1992

(12/1992), s. 2, (7.06.2008) by

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008

(8/2008), s. 12(a)(ii), commenced as per s. 15(2).

E2

Entitlement of complainant to free legal advice in a prosecution for an offence under

Act provided by

Civil Legal Aid Act 1995

(32/1995), s. 26(3)(b), as amended (7.03.2007) by

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)(Amendment) Act 2007

(6/2007), s. 3(4), commenced on enactment, and subsequently amended (20.07.2008)

by

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008

(14/2008), s. 78(b), S.I. No. 274 of 2008.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1. Definitions.

2. Defilement of child under 15 years of age.

3. Defilement of child under 17 years of age.

3A. Offence by

person in authority.

4. Summary trial of offences.

5. Female child under 17 years of age not guilty of offence.

6. Application of certain enactments.

7. Amendment of certain enactments.

8. Repeals.

9. Short title.

SCHEDULE

Enactments Repealed

Number

15

of

2006