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Four justice bills due for early publication

The Government's legislative programme for the upcoming Dáil session includes 21 bills that have been prioritised for publication.

Another 14 have been restored to the Dáil and Seanad order paper, while 29 have been prioritised for drafting during the session.

The bills due for early publication include four in the justice sector:

• Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Bill, which gives effect to an EU directive on combating terrorism,
• Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill, which provides for a reduction in time before disposal orders can be made, the appointment of receivers, and other enhancements to the confiscation regime,
• Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill, allowing gardaí to search images that are already legally in their possession through the use of facial-recognition technology “in limited circumstances only”,
• Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill, codifying powers of search, arrest, and detention and the procedural rights of suspects.

Defamation bill returns

Other bills being prioritised for publication include the Child Care (Amendment) Bill, which updates 1991 legislation, and the National Cyber Security Bill.

Among the justice bills being prioritised for drafting are the Inspection of Places of Detention Bill and a bill to implement to EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

Among the bills restored to the Dáil order paper are the Mental Health Bill 2024, the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024, and a bill providing for access to cash infrastructure.