The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 already proposes to add the offences of coercive control and forced marriage to the Schedule to the Bail Act.

Ministers have now agreed to add two further offences by way of committee stage amendments to the bill:

• intimidating a person or family of a person who is assisting a criminal investigation or who is acting as a witness or juror in criminal proceedings; and
• failing to comply with notification requirements under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, or refusing or failing to enable fingerprints, palm prints or photographs to be taken by An Garda Síochána in connection with such notification requirements.

Justice, home affairs and migration minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “While our bail laws are comprehensive, these amendments will help ensure that they remain fit for purpose and will enhance the criminal justice system’s ability to effectively mitigate against the risks that might be posed by those on bail.”

Other amendments set to be introduced to the bill at committee stage relate to the use of counselling notes in sexual offence trials and a disregard scheme for historic convictions for consensual same-sex activity.