Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if members of An Garda Síochána receive training in relation to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (Coco's Law); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68339/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law, was enacted in 2021. This Act provides for offences relating to the recording, distribution or publication of intimate images and for the anonymity of victims of those offences; and for an offence involving the distribution, publication or sending of threatening or grossly offensive communications.

The Act creates a serious offence of distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent with intent to cause harm to the victim, attracting a maximum penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment. The Act makes it an offence to threaten to distribute or publish such an image. It also provides for a strict liability offence, with a lower penalty, for engaging in the recording, distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent, with no requirement to prove an intention to cause harm.

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, my officials have sought information on training in relation to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 from An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána have advised that training in this area is firstly delivered to trainee gardaí who are undergoing the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Policing, which is accredited by the University of Limerick.

I am further advised that training in Coco’s Law is delivered to the wider organisation through the CPD (Continuous Professional Developmental) Core Programme. The CPD Core Programme provides a consistent approach to CPD training and the delivery of training nationwide ensuring the consistency and uniformity of training and service delivery.

Finally, Gardaí undergoing the Schools Programme are also trained in the relation to Coco’s Law which allows them to incorporate this training into the talks delivered by these Gardaí to schools across the country.