Helen McEntee

The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill was amended last month to include the new offences in the wake of high-profile news reports that intimate images of thousands of Irish women had been leaked and exchanged online.

However, the bill also deals with wider online harassment and cyber bullying. The government has dubbed it “Coco’s Law” after a young woman who took her own life in 2018 following sustained online abuse.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “The importance of ensuring that abuse in all forms and using any medium can be tackled cannot be under-estimated. The taking or sharing of intimate images without consent is abuse and will not be tolerated.

“This new legislation will give An Garda Síochána the tools they need to make sure that those who commit this abusive crime can be prosecuted and, if prosecuted, our courts will have sentences available that reflect the level of harm these crimes cause to their victims.”

She added: “In a world that relies more and more on technology for communication methods, this legislation will be an essential element for fighting back against those who choose to use these technological advancements to harm others.

“The passing of this bill strengthens our response to harm perpetrated online, as well as offline, and will ensure that individuals can be punished in a proportionate manner.”