Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 is legislation enacted in Ireland. It comprehensively reformed the law relating to sexual offences in the Republic of Ireland, replacing a complex and often outdated patchwork of common law principles and older statutory provisions.

Key provisions of the Act address a range of sexual offences, including:

• Rape: Defining and criminalizing various forms of rape.
• Aggravated Sexual Assault: Defining and criminalizing aggravated sexual assault.
• Sexual Assault: Defining and criminalizing sexual assault.
• Sexual Offences against Children: Addressing offences involving children, including child sexual abuse, child pornography, and grooming.
• Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation: Addressing trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The Act introduced significant changes to legal definitions, procedures, and penalties related to sexual offences. It also aimed to improve the protection of victims of sexual offences within the legal system. Specifically, the Act:

• Clarified and modernized the legal definitions of sexual offences.
• Introduced new offences to address emerging forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Increased the penalties for certain sexual offences.
• Made provisions to protect the identity and privacy of victims.
• Made provisions about evidence and procedure in sexual offence trials, including provisions relating to the admissibility of certain evidence and the questioning of complainants.

The Act has been amended and interpreted by subsequent legislation and court decisions. It remains the core legislation governing sexual offences in Ireland and has had a significant impact on the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of such cases.