Ireland: Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 was introduced to lower house of Irish Parliament

On 4 February 2026, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2026 (Bill No. 13 of 2026) was introduced to the lower house of the Irish Parliament. The Bill amends the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 to extend its scope to intimate images generated or modified by computer graphics. It replaces the definition of “intimate image” to include computer-generated or altered visual representations depicting nudity, sexual activity, or covered or purported intimate body parts. It inserts a new offence where a person generates such an image without consent for the purpose of distribution or publication, or encourages, causes or facilitates that generation. Where generation uses software made available by a social media service, presumptions apply regarding intent to distribute and knowing facilitation. A person guilty of the offence is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, and on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for up to seven years, or both.