No 26 of 2006 - Criminal Justice Act 2006
What does this law do?
The Criminal Justice Act 2006 contains a comprehensive package of anti-crime measures designed to enhance the powers of An Garda Síochána in the investigation and prosecution of offences and generally provide for improvements to the operation of the criminal justice system. The Act, in the main:
- amends and extends the powers of An Garda Síochána in relation to such matters as the preservation of crime scenes, the detention and photographing of suspects and the seizure and retention of evidence;
- makes a number of amendments to criminal law and procedure including the admissibility of witness statements in circumstances where a witness recants or denies making a prior statement and the extension of the circumstances in which the prosecution can appeal a point of law to the Supreme Court;
- makes provision for new offences including offences in relation to organised crime, the supply of drugs, reckless endangerment of children and attacks against emergency workers;
- amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 so as to strengthen and extend its mandatory minimum sentencing provisions for drug trafficking offences;
- provides for an obligation on drug trafficking offenders to notify information as to their whereabouts to An Garda Síochána;
- provides new sentencing options in lieu of imprisonment;
- provides new civil mechanisms to deal with anti-social behaviour by children and adults;
- updates and strengthens our laws on firearms and fireworks including by the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for some firearms offences;
- contains a comprehensive package on juvenile justice issues which will facilitate the implementation of the Children Act 2001; and
- provides for the establishment of the Criminal Law Codification Advisory Committee.
Contact Department
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Signed by the President
16 July 2006
Full version of the Act on Oireachtas website.