Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-10
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

I am not supportive of Deputy Kelly’s amendment. I do not find it frequently the case that my access or the access of many colleagues coming in and out of the Houses of the Oireachtas is blocked. I do not recall ever being blocked coming in or out. I suppose the purpose of it is to say we do not tolerate intimidation of elected Members of the Oireachtas and I think that is valid.
It is important to point out that I am aware that since October 2022, there have been approximately ten convictions of people for intimidation or violence against Members of the Oireachtas or people associated with it. We all know the case involving the Tánaiste, there was a case in respect of the Taoiseach and one in respect of Deputy McDonald. If people start intimidating politicians online the law is there to meet them and if people start to intimidate or harass politicians, or anyone else, physically the law is there and the law is responding to it fairly vigorously. The laws in place are sufficient to ensure that happens.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-10/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-10