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Irish Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Post
Government approves proposals for two new ‘sex for rent' offences in Ireland
JUSTICE minister Jim O'Callaghan has had proposals for new laws around 'sex for rent' offences approved by the cabinet today. Mr O'Callaghan proposed the creation of two specific criminal offences around 'sex for rent' – offering accommodation in exchange for sex and the advertising of accommodation in exchange for sex. The provisions encompass both rental agreements between landlords and tenants, and 'rent-a-room' situations. "It is the offer or advertisement that is being criminalised - there is no requirement to prove that sexual activity occurred," a Justice Department spokesperson explained. The proposed penalty for the new offences is a Class A fine of up to €5,000. 'Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through these arrangements is completely unacceptable,' Minister O'Callaghan said. 'It is an appalling abuse of power by unscrupulous individuals, and it will not be tolerated under any circumstances.' He added: 'This is a complex issue to legislate for but care has been taken to ensure that the offences are clear, precise and limited in scope. 'I am satisfied the provisions are workable and constitutionally sound, and do not create any unintended consequences such as inadvertently criminalising consensual relationships.' The new offences are proposed as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'. The proposed Bill also includes measures to amend existing legislation on the disclosure of counselling records in sexual assault trials and permit members of An Garda Siochana to order the removal of face coverings at protests. Today Mr O'Callaghan secured Government approval for the drafting of the required legislation. See More: Ireland, Legislation, Sex For Rent
The Journal
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Bill to outlaw sex for rent and give gardaí power to remove protesters' masks approved by government
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan has received Cabinet approval for legislation that includes the criminalisation of sex-for-rent arrangements, as well as measures that will impact sexual assault trials and the wearing of masks at protests. The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 will now be referred to the Justice Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, the Department of Justice said. Once the Committee's report is received by Cabinet, 'work on finalising the Bill will be prioritised', the Department said in a statement. Sex for rent The proposed legislation would introduce two specific criminal offences concerning sex for rent. Those offences will be offering accommodation in exchange for sex and the advertising of accommodation in exchange for sex. There will be no need for complainants to prove that sexual activity has occurred and the proposed penalty is a fine of €5,000. The Department said the provisions would cover both rental agreements between landlords and tenants, and 'rent-a-room' situations. 'Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through these arrangements is completely unacceptable,' O'Callaghan said in a statement. He described such arrangements as 'an appalling abuse of power by unscrupulous individuals'. While O'Callaghan said this was 'a complex issue to legislate for' he insisted that car had been taken 'to ensure that the offences are clear, precise and limited in scope'. 'I am satisfied the provisions are workable and constitutionally sound, and do not create any unintended consequences such as inadvertently criminalising consensual relationships.' Counsellor notes Another element of the proposed legislation is an amendment that would affect the disclosure of counselling notes in cases involving sexual assault. As it stands, notes from the counselling sessions of survivors of sexual assault can be released to the defence in pre-trial disclosures if the court deems the content materially relevant to the case. 'I am fully aware of the distress and re-victimisation that disclosure of counselling records can have on complainants in sexual assault trials,' O'Callaghan said. Advertisement He said that reforms to the law made in 2017 have 'not operated as intended'. 'I am therefore proposing to amend the existing legislation by requiring that a disclosure hearing takes place in all cases and removing the provision that allows for this step to be waived,' O'Callaghan said. He also noted that complainants have described feeling compelled to waive disclosure hearings because 'they don't want to risk a successful prosecution or delay a trial'. 'This amendment will ensure that the original intention of the legislation will apply,' said O'Callaghan. 'However, I am continuing to look at how we might further limit release of these records as I recognise that disclosure hearings can be extremely difficult for complainants.' Masks The Bill will also give gardaí the power to require people to remove a face covering when they reasonably expect that it is being worn in order to intimidate or conceal a person's identity when intending to commit a crime. The Department said this will serve as 'a deterrent against disorderly conduct and intimidation at protests and in other public places'. The proposal has been criticised by People Before Profit and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. TD Paul Murphy called it a 'worrying threat to the right of people to privacy, and their right to protest'. 'While people have the right to protest and that right must be respected, it is subject to the rights of others in our community,' O'Callaghan said, adding that striking that balance was a complex task for gardaí. 'It has become apparent that some protesters are covering their faces in an obvious effort to alarm and intimidate individuals in various scenarios or to avoid detection when committing a criminal offence.' Murphy said: 'We are seeing a general push against the right to privacy and the right to protest in the EU and elsewhere. Murphy said this was 'Black Mirror type stuff', and pointed to 'the German state criminalising protesters for speaking as Gaeilge', and the growing use of technology like AI and facial recognition to monitor ordinary citizens engaging in demonstrations. 'Protesters are not criminals and should not be treated as such. They have the right to wear a protective mask, scarf, religious face covering or sun-glasses without facing the threat of criminal charges.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
New laws banning sex-for-rent arrangements to go before Cabinet today
The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Image posed. Photo: Getty Long-awaited laws banning sex for rent will go to the Cabinet today. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will ask the Government to draft, as a matter of priority, laws which he argues would address 'highly exploitative behaviour'. The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'. With regard to sex-for-rent arrangements, the new bill will introduce two new criminal offences: offering accommodation in exchange of sex; and the advertising of accommodation in exchange of sex. The main benefits of these provisions, the Cabinet will be told, include increased protections for vulnerable individuals and the potential to act as a deterrent to landlords or property owners currently engaging in such behaviour. Ministers will be told the proposal supports the Government's broader efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and offers positive potential impacts for gender equality. The laws aim to encompass both tenancies and licence arrangements. The proposed initial penalty is a class A fine, which is up to €5,000. Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan drafted legislation to tackle the practice in March 2022, but it was rejected after pre-legislative scrutiny. A National Women's Council (NWC) report has found students and migrant women were particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Recent research into Ireland's rental market found it creates the 'perfect environment' for the exploitation of tenants, with some landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex. Some women are being forced to accept such arrangements to avoid becoming homeless, the report from the NWC found. The NWC said practice of sex for rent has become a common occurrence. An Irish Council for International Students survey earlier this year found one in seven people had been offered rentals where they share a room – and sleep in the same bed – with people they do not know. All the respondents who received sex-for-rent offers were non-native English speakers and 68pc were female.
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
New laws banning sex for rent to go before Cabinet today
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will ask the Government to draft, as a matter of priority, laws which he argues would address 'highly exploitative behaviour'. The move will come as part of a new Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which aims to respond to 'a range of pressing challenges for the criminal justice system'. With regard to sex-for-rent arrangements, the new bill will introduce two new criminal offences: offering accommodation in exchange of sex; and the advertising of accommodation in exchange of sex. The main benefits of these provisions, the Cabinet will be told, include increased protections for vulnerable individuals and the potential to act as a deterrent to landlords or property owners currently engaging in such behaviour. Ministers will be told the proposal supports the Government's broader efforts to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and offers positive potential impacts for gender equality. The laws aim to encompass both tenancies and licence arrangements. The proposed initial penalty is a class A fine, which is up to €5,000. Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan drafted legislation to tackle the practice in March 2022, but it was rejected after pre-legislative scrutiny. A National Women's Council (NWC)report has found students and migrant women were particularly vulnerable to this form of exploitation. Up to one in 20 students have been propositioned with a sex-for-rent scenario. Recent research into Ireland's rental market found it creates the 'perfect environment' for the exploitation of tenants, with some landlords offering discounted or free accommodation in return for sex. Some women are being forced to accept such arrangements to avoid becoming homeless, the report from the NWC found. The NWC said practice of sex for rent has become a common occurrence. An Irish Council for International Students survey earlier this year found one in seven people had been offered rentals where they share a room – and sleep in the same bed – with people they do not know. All the respondents who received sex-for-rent offers were non-native English speakers and 68pc were female.
