Fifth Stage Stage in the legislative process — click for what it means Current The bill’s status — click for what it means 27th Seanad The House currently handling the bill 3/2026 Official bill number / year
Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026
- Sponsor
- Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
- Introduced
- 14 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
What this bill does AI · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
- Creates modern statutory framework for Garda stop-and-search powers in public places and vehicles, replacing outdated 1976 and 1997 legislation with clear procedures and safeguards.
- Establishes detailed search warrant rules for premises, including specific protections for electronic devices, privilege screening, and High Court oversight of disputed privileged material.
- Strengthens custody rights by implementing EU Directive 2013/48/EU protections: access to lawyers, third-party notification, and consular communication for detained persons.
Stage timeline What do these stages mean?
- First Stage 27th Seanad14 Jan 2026
- Second Stage 27th Seanad14 Jan 2026
- Committee Stage 27th Seanad4 Feb 2026
- Committee Stage 27th Seanad14 May 2026
- Report Stage 27th Seanad17 Jun 2026
- Fifth Stage 27th Seanad17 Jun 2026
Debates
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