Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-23 ============================================================ Sharon Keogan (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit ar an tráthnóna breá seo. I felt I had to say something in Irish after hearing the beautiful Irish of Senator Kelleher. I broadly support the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill. This is necessary and timely legislation. The nature of terrorism has changed dramatically in recent years. It is no longer confined to organised groups operating in defined territories. It is decentralised, digital, international and often embedded within networks that operate across borders, across jurisdictions and, in some cases, behind layers of plausible deniability. Ireland cannot afford to be behind the curve on this issue. There are growing concerns that we are seen to be unprepared. There is evidence, both anecdotal and factual, suggesting that extremist networks view Ireland as a softer environment in which they can operate compared with our European neighbours. The ability to move between jurisdictions, particularly across the island, combined with the limited visibility into certain networks presents a real vulnerability. We have seen worrying incidents in recent years, namely attacks on members of An Garda Síochána, assaults motivated by extremist ideologies and threats against places of worship. These are not isolated events. They point to a broader pattern that deserves serious attention. In parallel, there have been warnings from analysts and international observers about the activity of extremist-linked networks in Ireland, including those operating indirectly through affiliated or front organisations. This brings me to a related point, namely the need for better visibility and understanding of ideological networks operating within the State. Concerns have been raised about the presence and influence of movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood through a range of associated organisations. This is not a question of religion; it is a question of transparency, governance and whether the State has the tools and information necessary to understand what is operating within its jurisdiction. In that context, this Bill is a step in the right direction. It strengthens our legal framework in several important ways. It criminalises travel for the purpose of terrorism, the provision and receipt of training, and the facilitation of these activities. These are exactly the kinds of indirect and preparatory actions that characterise modern terrorism structures. By targeting them, we move from a purely reactive model to a preventive one. This Bill will also bring Ireland into alignment with wider European standards. This is critical. Terrorism is not a domestic problem alone; it is an international one. Co-operation, intelligence sharing and legal compatibility with our partners are essential if we are to respond effectively. Supporting this Bill does not mean ignoring its flaws, however. Before I finish, I feel obliged to address one part of the Bill, the so-called Kneecap clause. Specifically, I am speaking of the addition to the principal Act which states that if a person shares content that glorifies a terrorist activity, including by praise or celebration, that person will be found to have provoked the commission of a terrorist offence. Overall, I am very supportive of this Bill, but it seems negligent on the part of the Government to proceed to push through this clause despite the heavy debate to which it was subjected and scrutiny it came under in the Dáil. Also, it seems downright reckless to bring this into the Irish political context. It may sound a little facetious, but could singing "Seán South of Garryowen" qualify under this clause? The latter is an important question that the Government should have asked itself. For better or for worse, the War of Independence, the Civil War and the Troubles are not pieces of dead history. They are, for better or worse, living parts of our society and culture. That makes the Irish context unique and it requires careful drafting when it comes to provisions dealing with speech, expression and historical memory. I will not belabour the point, but I believe that the specific provision should be revisited. I would be open to amendments that narrow its scope and provide clearer safeguards, and I encourage the Government to engage constructively with the Opposition on this matter. The Bill is necessary. It enhances our ability to respond to modern terrorism, aligns us with international partners and addresses real and evolving threats. Like all legislation in this area, however, it must strike the right balance. With targeted refinement, particularly in relation to speech provisions, it can do that more effectively. I support the Bill, but I also support improving it. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-23/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-06-23