Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008

Number 7 of 2008

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MUTUAL ASSISTANCE) ACT 2008

REVISED

Updated to 7 November 2024

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 (41/2024), enacted 29 October 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 (Designation of United Kingdom) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 622 of 2024), made 7 November 2024, were considered in the preparation of this revision.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


Number 7 of 2008


CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MUTUAL ASSISTANCE) ACT 2008

REVISED

Updated to 7 November 2024


Information about financial transactions for use in the State

Information about financial transactions for use in designated state

Supplementary

Introductory

Requests for interception where technical assistance required

Notifications of other interceptions

Miscellaneous

28. Indirect interception of telecommunications messages.

29. Application of Act of 1993 in relation to this Part.

30. Amendment of section 110 of Act of 1983.

PART 4

Freezing, Confiscation and Forfeiture of Property

Chapter 1

Interpretation

31. Interpretation (Part 4).

Chapter 2

Freezing of Property

32. Freezing order relating to evidence.

33. Transmission of freezing order for enforcement outside the State.

34. Transmission of external freezing orders to State for enforcement.

35. Recognition and enforcement of external freezing orders.

36. Application, etc., of freezing co-operation orders.

37. Registration of freezing co-operation orders.

38. Exercise of powers under this Chapter by High Court or receiver.

39. Receivers: supplementary provisions.

40. Bankruptcy of defendant, etc.

41. Property subject to freezing co-operation order dealt with by Official Assignee.

42. Application of proceeds of realisation.

43. Winding up of company holding realisable property.

44. Duration of freezing co-operation order.

45. Variation or discharge of freezing co-operation order.

46. Refusal to make freezing co-operation order.

47. Postponement of freezing co-operation order.

48. Subsequent treatment of frozen property.

Chapter 3

Confiscation of Property

49. Request for confiscation of property in designated state.

50. Transmission to State of external confiscation order.

51. Confiscation co-operation order.

51A. External confiscation orders (member states).

51B. Refusal to confiscate.

51C. Postponement of confiscation.

51D. Variation or discharge of confiscation co-operation orders.

51E. Variation or discharge of external confiscation orders from member states.

51F. Termination of external confiscation orders from member states.

51G. Central Authority to inform competent authority.

52. Enforcement, etc., of confiscation co-operation orders.

53. Realisation of property subject to confiscation co-operation order.

54. Interest on sums unpaid under confiscation co-operation orders.

55. Payments under confiscation co-operation orders to be expressed in euro.

56. Exercise of powers under this Chapter by High Court or receiver.

57. Application to confiscation co-operation orders of certain provisions relating to freezing co-operation orders.

57A. Application of provisions on enforcement and realisation to execution of external confiscation order from member states.

Chapter 4

Forfeiture of Property

58. Transmission of external forfeiture order to designated state for enforcement.

59. Transmission of external forfeiture order to State for enforcement.

60. Forfeiture co-operation order.

PART 4A

Financial Penalties

60A. Interpretation.

60B. Request for execution of financial penalty order in member state.

60C. Transmission to State of external financial penalty order.

60D. External financial penalty orders.

60E. Refusal to execute external financial penalty order.

60F. Variation of amount payable under external financial penalty order.

60G. Termination of execution of external financial penalty order.

60H. Central Authority to inform competent authority.

60I. Amounts to accrue to Exchequer.

PART 5

Provision of Evidence

Chapter 1

Interpretation

61. Interpretation (Part 5).

Chapter 2

Taking of Evidence

62. Evidence from person in designated state.

63. Evidence for use in designated state.

64. Privilege of witnesses.

Evidence of prisoners

Evidence through television link

Evidence by telephone link for use outside State

Search for Evidence

73. Search for evidence at place in designated state.

74. Search for evidence for use outside State (general).

75. Search for particular evidence for use outside State.

75A. Powers of officers of Revenue Commissioners.

Chapter 3

Identification evidence

76. Definitions (Chapter 3).

77. Identification evidence for use in State.

78. Identification evidence for use outside State.

79. Action on request.

79A. Request pursuant to Article 7 of 2008 Council Decision or that Article as applied by 2009 Agreement with Iceland and Norway.

79B. Application for court order authorising taking of identification evidence from protected person or child under Act of 2008.

79C. Recording of supply and receipt of data for requests pursuant to Article 7 of 2008 Council Decision or that Article as applied by 2009 Agreement with Iceland and Norway.

PART 6

Other Forms of Assistance

Chapter 1

Service of documents

80. Documents for service outside State.

81. Mode of service.

82. Service of documents in State.

Chapter 2

Examining objects and sites

83. Examining objects and sites.

Chapter 3

Restitution

84. Restitution of stolen property from designated state.

85. Request to State for restitution of stolen property.

86. Action on request.

87. Order for restitution.

Chapter 4

Controlled deliveries

88. Interpretation (Chapter 4).

89. Controlled delivery in designated state.

90. Controlled delivery in State.

91. Amendment of Garda Síochána Act 2005.

92. Application of Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004 in relation to controlled deliveries.

PART 7

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Between the State and the United States of America

93. Definitions (Part 7).

94. Application in State of Ireland - US Treaty.

PART 7A

Special Intervention Units

94A. Interpretation.

94B. Special intervention unit.

94C. Request to member state for assistance of special intervention unit in dealing with crisis situation.

94D. Request to State for assistance of special intervention unit in dealing with crisis situation.

94E. Operation of special intervention unit.

PART 7B

Assistance in Criminal Matters between State and EPPO

Chapter 1

General

94F. Application of Part.

94G. Cooperation with EPPO.

94H. Modification of references for purposes of Part (general).

Chapter 2

Modification of Part 1 for purposes of Part

94I. Application of section 2 for purposes of Part.

94J. Application of section 3 for purposes of Part.

94K. Application of section 6 for purposes of Part.

94L. Application of section 7 for purposes of Part.

94M. Application of section 8 for purposes of Part.

94N. Application of section 9 for purposes of Part.

Chapter 3

Modification of Part 2 for purposes of Part

94O. Application of section 14 for purposes of Part.

94P. Application of section 17 for purposes of Part.

94Q. Application of section 20 for purposes of Part.

Chapter 4

Modification of Part 3 for purposes of Part

94R. Application of section 24 for purposes of Part.

94S. Application of section 25 for purposes of Part.

94T. Application of section 27 for purposes of Part.

94U. Application of section 28 for purposes of Part.

Chapter 5

Modification of Part 4 for purposes of Part

94V. Modification of reference to competent authority.

94W. Application of section 31 for purposes of Part.

94X. Application of section 34 for purposes of Part.

94Y. Application of section 35 for purposes of Part.

94Z. Application of section 42 for purposes of Part.

94AA. Application of section 45 for purposes of Part.

94AB. Application of section 46 for purposes of Part.

94AC. Application of section 47 for purposes of Part.

Chapter 6

Modification of Part 5 for purposes of Part

94AD. Application of section 62 for purposes of Part.

94AE. Application of section 63 for purposes of Part.

94AF. Application of section 64 for purposes of Part.

94AG. Application of section 66 for purposes of Part.

94AH. Application of section 67 for purposes of Part.

94AI. Application of section 70 for purposes of Part.

94AJ. Application of section 73 for purposes of Part.

94AK. Application of section 74 for purposes of Part.

94AL. Application of section 75 for purposes of Part.

94AM. Application of section 78 for purposes of Part.

94AN. Application of section 79 for purposes of Part.

94AO. Application of section 79A for purposes of Part.

94AP. Application of section 79C for purposes of Part.

Chapter 7

Modification of Part 6 for purposes of Part

94AQ. Application of section 82 for purposes of Part.

94AR. Application of section 83 for purposes of Part.

94AS. Application of section 88 for purposes of Part.

Chapter 8

Modification of Part 8 for purposes of Part

94AT. Application of section 97 for purposes of Part.

94AU. Application of section 99 for purposes of Part.

94AV. Application of section 102 for purposes of Part.

94AW. Application of section 103 for purposes of Part.

94AX. Application of section 104 for purposes of Part.

PART 8

Miscellaneous

95. Exchange of information concerning terrorist offences between Europol, Eurojust and member states.

95A. Eurojust national member.

96. Application and amendment of Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004.

97. Presence of representatives of requesting state at execution of request.

98. Presence of members of Garda Síochána at execution of request in designated state.

99. Use of information or evidence obtained in response to request in designated state.

100. Disclosure prejudicing investigation.

101. Liability of officers of body corporate.

102. Evidence in proceedings (general).

103. Provisional measures.

104. Recognition of third party rights.

105. Amendment of Criminal Justice Act 1994.

106. Amendment of section 8(7) of Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996.

107. Personal data protection.

108. Exercise of powers by judge of District Court outside district court district.

109. Regulations.

110. Expenses.

111. Laying of orders or regulations before Houses of Oireachtas.

SCHEDULE 1

Text of 2000 Convention

SCHEDULE 2

Text of 2001 Protocol

SCHEDULE 3

Text of Agreement with Iceland and Norway

SCHEDULE 3A

Text of Agreement between the European Union and Japan on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

SCHEDULE 4

Text of Articles 49 and 51 of Schengen Convention

SCHEDULE 5

Text of Framework Decision

SCHEDULE 5A

Text of 2005 Framework Decision

SCHEDULE 5B

Text of 2006 Framework Decision

SCHEDULE 6

Text of Title III of EC/Swiss Confederation Agreement

SCHEDULE 7

Text of 2005 Council Decision

SCHEDULE 7A

Text of the 2008 Council Decision (special intervention units)

SCHEDULE 7B

Text of 2009 Council Decision (Repealed)

SCHEDULE 7C

Text of 2018 Regulation

SCHEDULE 7D

Text of Titles VIII and XI of Part Three of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

SCHEDULE 8

PART 1

Text of 1959 Convention

PART 2

Text of First Additional Protocol to 1959 Convention

SCHEDULE 9

Text of Second Additional Protocol to 1959 Convention

SCHEDULE 10

Text of Chapter IV of 2005 Convention

SCHEDULE 10A

Text of Istanbul Convention

SCHEDULE 11

Text of Articles 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, done at New York on 15 November 2000.

SCHEDULE 12

Text of Articles 46, 49, 50 and 54 to 57 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, done at New York on 31 October 2003

SCHEDULE 12A

Text of Second Optional Protocol

SCHEDULE 13

Text of EU/US Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance

SCHEDULE 14

Text of Ireland/US Treaty of 18 January 2001, as applied by Instrument of 14 July 2005


Acts Referred to

Bail Act 1997

1997, No. 16

Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879

42 & 43 Vic., c. 11

Bankruptcy Act 1988

1988, No. 27

Central Bank Act 1971

1971, No. 24

Children Act 2001

2001, No. 24

Companies Act 1963

1963, No. 33

Companies Acts 1963 to 2006

Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961

1961, No. 39

Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996

1996, No. 31

Criminal Justice Act 1994

1994, No. 15

Criminal Justice Act 2006

2006, No. 26

Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004

2004, No. 20

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997

1997, No. 4

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005

2005, No. 2

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001

2001, No. 50

Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act 2000

2000, No. 11

Data Protection Act 1988

1988, No. 25

Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003

Dentists Act 1985

1985, No. 9

European Arrest Warrant Act 2003

2003, No. 45

Europol Act 1997

1997, No. 38

Extradition Acts 1965 to 2001

Extradition (Amendment) Act 1994

1994, No. 6

Extradition (European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism) Act 1987

1987, No. 1

Extradition (European Union Conventions) Act 2001

2001, No. 49

Garda Síochána Act 2005

2005, No. 20

Immigration Act 1999

1999, No. 22

Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993

1993, No. 10

Medical Practitioners Act 1978

1978, No. 4

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977

1977, No. 12

Nurses Act 1985

1985, No. 18

Official Secrets Act 1963

1963, No. 1

Police (Property) Act 1897

60 & 61 Vic., c. 30

Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983

1983, No. 24

Prisons Act 1970

1970, No. 11

Prisons Act 1972

1972, No. 7

Probation of Offenders Act 1907

7 Edw. 7., c. 17

Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006

2006, No. 12

Registration of Deeds and Title Acts 1964 and 2006

Statutory Declarations Act 1938

1938, No. 37

Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners Act 1995

1995, No. 16


Number 7 of 2008


CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MUTUAL ASSISTANCE) ACT 2008

REVISED

Updated 7 November 2024


AN ACT—

(a) TO ENABLE EFFECT TO BE GIVEN IN THE STATE TO CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS, OR PROVISIONS OF SUCH AGREEMENTS, BETWEEN THE STATE AND OTHER STATES RELATING TO MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS;

(b) TO REPEAL AND RE-ENACT, WITH AMENDMENTS, PART VII (INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION) OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1994;

AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[28th April, 2008]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: