Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will today seek government approval for legislation introducing three new terrorism offences designed to combat the “foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon” and align Ireland’s counter-terrorism laws with European Union standards.
The Terror Offences Bill proposes to criminalize receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism, and organizing or facilitating travel for terrorist purposes. These provisions would enable Irish authorities to prosecute individuals who travel abroad to participate in terrorist activities, addressing a gap in current legislation.
The Department of Justice described the bill as bringing Ireland’s counter-terrorism framework “into line with those of other EU countries” and facilitating enhanced cooperation with European security networks.
“It will facilitate Ireland’s participation in enhanced counter-terrorism networks across the EU, giving An Garda Síochána the ability to tap into those networks to respond to both domestic and cross-border terrorist threats,” the Department stated.
Officials characterized the legislation as “a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland’s counter-terrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorist threats.”
The bill includes provisions specifically addressing cases involving minors, allowing courts to treat the targeting of children as an aggravating factor when sentencing individuals for terrorist training or recruitment activities.
The legislation targets what the UN Security Council defines as “foreign terrorist fighters” – individuals who travel or attempt to travel to countries other than their states of residence or nationality to perpetrate, plan, prepare for, or participate in terrorist acts, or to provide or receive terrorist training. Historical examples include individuals who travelled to join ISIS.
However, the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre has raised concerns about the broader implications of foreign terrorist fighter definitions and their impact on human rights. These issues include “the labelling of individuals, as well as their families, by association, as foreign terrorist fighters, difficulties related to the criminal regulation of individuals’ intentions, and the blurring of lines between terrorism and armed conflict.”
The UN body warned that such definitions could have “consequences for human rights protection and the protection regime under international humanitarian law,” noting particular concerns about potential stigmatization and dehumanization, especially regarding children.
The proposed legislation represents Ireland’s response to evolving international terrorism threats and reflects broader European efforts to address cross-border terrorist activities through coordinated legal frameworks.
If approved by the cabinet, the bill will proceed through the legislative process, potentially giving Irish law enforcement expanded tools to investigate and prosecute terrorism-related activities while raising questions about balancing security measures with civil liberties protections.