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Updated to 19 May 2025 (Act No. 3 of 2025 and S.I. No. 193 of 2025)

Offences against the State Act 1939
No. 13 of 1939

Contents

Commencement

SectionCommencement DateCommencement Information
Whole Act  14 June 1939 Commenced on enactment

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Appl. with ness. mods. 2/2005, s. 5(2), (4)
Def. of "unlawful organisation" am. 2/2005, s. 5(1), (3), (4)
Provn. relating to bail. 16/1997, ss. 1, 13 (2), sch., pars. 25, 29, 30
S. 2 am. 26/1972, s. 5
S. 6(1) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(1), 16(2)
S. 6(2) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(2), 16(2)
S. 7(1) am. 32/2009, s. 18(1)(a)
  32/1976, ss. 2(3), 16(2)
S. 7(2) am. 32/2009, s. 18(1)(b)
  32/1976, ss. 2(4), 16(2)
S. 7(3) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 18(2)
S. 7(3)(a) am. 43/2014, ss. 1(3), 68, sch. 4
S. 7(4) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 18(2)
S. 11(3) (in pt.) rep. 14/1945, s. 13, sch.
Ss. 13, 14 am. 32/1976, s. 14
S. 15(3) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(5), 16(2)
S. 15(4), assembly under exempt. 39/1998, ss. 12(4), 18
S. 21 am. 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i)
S. 21, evidence in proceedings. 26/1972, s. 2
S. 21 (2) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(6), 16(2)
S. 21 (2) (a) am. 2/2005, s. 48(a)
S. 21 (2) (b) am. 2/2005, s. 48(b)
S. 21A, new s. 2/2005, s. 49
S. 21A am. 2/2005, ss. 4, 6(1)(b)(i)
S. 22 (a) am. 2/2005, s. 50
S. 22 trans. of functns. under. S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
S. 22 constr. retro. 3/1985, s. 8
Ss. 22A-22I, new ss. ins. 2/2005, s. 51
S. 23 constr. retro. 3/1985, s. 8
S. 25(1), (2) am. 32/1976, s. 4(a)
S. 25(6) ins. 32/1976, s. 4(b)
S. 27(4) am. 32/1976, ss. 2(7), 16(2)
S. 29, s. 32/1976, s. 5
S. 29 substit. 33/2012, ss. 1, 4(2)
S. 30 power to take samples and prints from persons in custody 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 9, 11-13, 31-33, 35, 86, 100
S. 30 destruction of samples taken in custody 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 76-80, 84, 85
S. 30 applied S.I. No. 74 of 1997, regs. 1(2), 3(2)(b)
S. 30 application extended S.I. No. 119 of 1987, regs. 1(2), 7(4)
S. 30, matters to be recorded when direction given under extending period of detention S.I. No. 119 of 1987, reg. 7(4)
S. 30 mod. 39/1998, ss. 11, 18
S. 30 rstrct. 32/1976, ss. 1, 2(5), 3
S. 30 saving for. 22/1984, ss. 1(1), (2), 2, 4(10)
  29/1996, ss. 2(8), 12(2)
  29/2007, s. 50(10)
S. 30(3A) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(1)(a)
S. 30(4)-(4C), subsecs. substit. 39/1998, ss. 10, 18
S. 30(4BA) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4BB) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4BC) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(1)(b)
S. 30(4D) substit. 32/2009, s. 21(1)(c)
S. 30(4D) subsec. ins. 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(a)
S. 30A, new s. 39/1998, ss. 11, 18
S. 30A(1) constr. of refs. 11/2014, ss. 1(2), 166
S. 30A(1) substit. 32/2009, s. 21(2)
S. 30A(1A) subsec. ins. 32/2009, s. 21(2)
S. 30A(2)(b) am. 32/2009, s. 21(3)
  26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(i)
S. 30A(3) am. 26/2006, ss. 1(2), 187(b)(ii)
S. 34*
Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), saver for powers under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(c)
Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), certain offences under Criminal Justice Act 2006 (ss. 71A, 72, 73, 76) deemed scheduled offences 32/2009, s. 8(2)
Pt. 5 (ss. 35-53), saving for. 39/1998, s.14 (3) (c)
Ss. 35, 36 saver for Government power under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(a)
Ss. 35, 36, saving for. 39/1998, s.14 (3) (a)
Ss. 36(3), 37 applied to certain offences under Criminal Justice Act 2006 (ss. 71A, 72, 73, 76) 32/2009, s. 8(2)
Ss. 36 (3), 37 constr. 39/1998, s. 14(2), (3)
S. 38(4) ins. 2/2005, s. 52
S. 39 registrar appointed under deemed to be constituent court office 36/2009, ss. 1(2), 17(2)
S. 39(5) substituted 18/2023, ss. 1(4), 109
S. 44(1) substit. 27/2010, ss. 1(2), 32
S. 44(2) am. 39/1961, s. 12(3)
S. 44(2) appl. 31/1995, s. 3(3)
S. 44(2), constr. of cert. refs. am. 40/1993, s. 3(8)
S. 45(2) saver for DPP power under 32/2009, s. 8(3)(b)
S. 45(2) am. 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11
S. 45(2), saving for. 39/1998, s. 14(3)(b)
S. 46(2) am. 10/1999, ss. 2(2), 11
S. 47-49 procedures prescribed S.I. No. 183 of 2016, rls. 2-91
  S.I. No. 182 of 2016, rls. 2-91
S. 49(2)-(8) ins. 2/2005, s. 53
S. 52, applic. rstrct. 39/1998, s. 13
S. 55*
Pt. 6 (ss. 54-59) rep. 2/1940, s. 2

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 19(1) Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 7 of 1983)
  Unlawful Organisation (Suppression) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 162 of 1939)
S. 36 Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 282 of 1972)
  Offences against the State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1972 (S.I. No. 142 of 1972)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 7) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 326 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 6) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 282 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 5) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 212 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 4) Order 1947 (S.I. No. 205 of 1947)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No 3) Order 1940 (S.I. No. 334 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (No. 2) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 343 of 1939)
  Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 339 of 1939)
S. 36(3) Offences Against The State (Scheduled Offences) (Cessation) Order 1948 (S.I. No. 192 of 1948)
S. 41(1) Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 2 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 183 of 2016)
  Offences Against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Special Criminal Court No. 1 Rules 2016 (S.I. No. 182 of 2016)
  Offences Against The State Acts, 1939 To 1998 (Special Criminal Court Rules) 2001 (S.I. No. 536 of 2001)
  Special Criminal Court Rules 1975 (S.I. No. 234 of 1975)
  Special Criminal Court Rules 1972 (S.I. No. 147 of 1972)
  Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24Th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 441 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Additional Rules of Special Criminal Court Established on The 24th Day of August 1939 (S.I. No. 346 of 1939)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939. Rules of Special Criminal Court 1939 (S.I. No. 266 of 1939)
S. 50(4) Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 1946 (S.I. No. 279 of 1946)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 338 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 1942 (S.I. No. 182 of 1942)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 297 of 1940)
  Offences, Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 178 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) (Amendment) Regulations 1940 (S.I. No. 106 of 1940)
  Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Military Custody) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 288 of 1939)
S. 58 Offences Against The State Act, 1939 (Part VI) (Detention) Regulations 1939 (S.I. No. 249 of 1939)
S. 59 Offences Against The State (Internment Commission) Order 1939 (S.I. No. 344 of 1939)

*S. 34 : Invalid. Cox v. Ireland (H.C., S.C.) [1992] 2 I.R. 503.

*S. 55 Invalid. State (Burke) v Lennon [1940] I.R.136