Ireland to Criminalize Extreme Pornography, Micheál Martin Confirms

Ireland's prime minister, Micheál Martin, confirmed on November 12, 2026, that the government is proceeding with plans to introduce legislation criminalizing the possession and distribution of "extreme" pornography, with a target for passage by early 2027. This move follows earlier proposals from Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to outlaw the production, distribution, and possession of such content.

Proposed Legislation Details

Prime Minister Martin informed members of the Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the national parliament, that the planned bill "will create offenses relating to the possession, production and distribution of violent or extreme pornography, addressing a significant gap in Irish law." The government approved this plan, which Justice Minister O’Callaghan revealed in May. The proposed new laws will take "an objective approach," covering material that would appear, to a reasonable person, to depict extreme violence, abuse, necrophilia, or bestiality. This includes material altered or generated using technology. The bill is currently on the priority for drafting list in the autumn legislative program.

Justice Minister O’Callaghan stated that his department is drafting proposals to outlaw the production, distribution, and possession of "extreme or violent pornography." He expressed hope to bring the proposed legislation before the government within two months of his May 19, 2026, statement. O’Callaghan also noted that members of Ireland’s national police service have warned of a "direct link" between online pornography and "serious sexual violence on women," including incidents involving "nonfatal strangulation, degrading sexual acts, and coercion."

O’Callaghan clarified that he is not interested in censorship but intends to bring forward proposals to criminalize extreme violent pornography. He further stated that violent pornography is "one of the most influential" forces negatively shaping sexual development. The proposed legislation would ban videos of extreme or violent acts perpetrated against real people and would also cover pornography generated using artificial intelligence (AI) programs. The High Court recently identified a legal loophole, meaning no offense exists in the State regarding the possession of extreme pornographic material, following two extradition requests for offenses related to the possession of bestiality material. O’Callaghan is bringing forward a proposal to address this legislative gap and concerns within the Department of Justice about the harm caused by access to violent pornography. He stated, "There is growing recognition that violent and extreme pornography is now one of the most influential, accessible, and commercially powerful forces negatively shaping sexual development and behaviour." He added, "I will introduce a new offence that will criminalise the possession of extreme and violent pornography."

O’Callaghan also indicated that violent porn is often characterized by the "use of knives" and "with strangulation threats to the point of causing or nearly killing someone." He emphasized that the government does not intend to enforce "a sense of moral prurience" but believes minors and younger adults over the age of majority need protection from such "influence." He explained, "It’s on the basis that this is very damaging to young people who are looking at this and thinking ‘this is how human sexuality operates’—it’s not, and we need to protect them from it." He stressed that this effort before parliament will not come in the format of emergency legislation, noting that it needs to be considered to strike the right balance. O'Callaghan said, "I know on an emergency basis, legislation can be introduced, but something like this needs to be considered. We need to think of the available defences to it, obviously for artistic purposes or for films."

International Context and Influence

Prime Minister Martin noted that Justice Minister O’Callaghan has been working "to build consensus throughout the European Union on a coordinated criminal justice response to the harmful impact of extreme or violent pornography." This included hosting a discussion on the topic with other nations’ ministers in July, as part of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. Martin added that "Officials continue to engage with the European Commission on potential further cooperation in this area."

The talking points used by Martin, O’Callaghan, and other supporters of the proposal have largely mirrored those of the influential 2025 U.K. "pornography review." That review recommended banning any adult content deemed "degrading, violent and misogynistic," which contributed to the criminalization in the U.K. of depictions of "non-fatal strangulation," often referred to as "choking." Martin described the issue as "a very serious and worrying issue," calling it "a crisis facing society and facing our younger populations in general in terms of the potential exposure they have to this violent pornography." He expressed the government's desire for the bill to be passed "early in the new year."

Key Facts

• Ireland's government plans to introduce legislation criminalizing possession and distribution of "extreme" pornography.
• Prime Minister Micheál Martin confirmed the plan on November 12, 2026, aiming for passage by early 2027.
• Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan revealed proposals in May 2026 to outlaw production, distribution, and possession of "extreme or violent pornography."
• The proposed laws will cover material depicting extreme violence, abuse, necrophilia, or bestiality, including AI-generated content.
• O’Callaghan has engaged with EU ministers to build consensus on a coordinated criminal justice response to extreme pornography.
• The initiative mirrors the 2025 U.K. "pornography review" that led to the criminalization of "non-fatal strangulation" depictions.