BREACHES OF NOTIFICATION requirements by sex offenders is set to be added to the list of offences where bail can be refused.

It’s further understood that the intimidation of witnesses and jurors is also set to be added to this list of offences.

Under the Bail Act, bail may be refused to a person if the court is satisfied that such refusal is “reasonably considered necessary” to prevent that person from committing a serious offence while they are on bail.

It’s understood that Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will bring a memo to Cabinet on Wednesday to seek approval to add new offences where bail can be refused.

A report published last year by Senior Counsel Lorcan Staines, titled ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’, made 15 recommendations on the operation of bail in Ireland.

Some of these recommendations, such as including forced marriage and coercive control to the list of offences where bail can be refused, are already included in the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026.

This Bill recently completed the Second Stage in Dáil Éireann on its way to becoming law.

The report also recommended that intimidation of witnesses and breach of notification requirements by a sex offender be added to the list of offences where bail can be refused.

In the Dáil last week, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Matt Carthy asked for an update on whether O’Callaghan will work to implement all of the recommendations.

O’Callaghan replied that “while bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive, I am committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose while ensuring fundamental rights principles are adhered to”.

He added that there was a “need for additional actions to be taken to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail”.

O’Callaghan informed the Dáil that consideration was being given to further amending the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 to include the offences of intimidation of witnesses and breach of notification requirements by a sex offender.

A source has said that O’Callaghan will bring a memo to Cabinet this week to seek approval to add these offences.

Breaches of notification requirements by a sex offender include the offences of refusing or failing to enable fingerprints, palm prints or photographs to be taken by gardaí.

These offences are punishable by a penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

Meanwhile, intimidation of witnesses of a jury includes the offence of harming, threatening, menacing or otherwise intimidating or putting in fear a person – or family member of a person – who is assisting a criminal investigation or who is a witness or juror (or potential witness or juror) in criminal proceedings. 

This offence is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

-With additional reporting from Niall O’Connor