The Government’s new terrorism bill could criminalise commemorations of the 1916 Rising or Wolfe Tone, Sinn Féin has claimed. 

The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 was introduced into the Oireachtas by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan earlier this month and has passed the first stage of Dáil scrutiny. 

If passed in its current form, it would ban people from doing something that “glorifies (including by praise or celebration) a terrorist activity”. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Matt Carthy warned the legislation could have unintended consequences. 

“Our position is to remove one particular clause which is absolutely crazy to me, quite frankly,” he explained. 

“It includes the provision of a 10 year prison sentence for anybody who ‘glorifies a terrorist activity’, as it’s described. 

“Me and you, any other set of two people could have very different views as to what ‘glorifying a terrorist activity’ could mean.” 

Deputy Carthy described this as “far too broad of a provision” and could see “legitimate freedom of expression” criminalised. 

“We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks how Liam Óg from Kneecap, better known as Mo Chara, has basically been accused of acting in breach of a very similar clause within the British Terrorism Act,” he said.  

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates Court London. Picture by: AP Photo/Kin Cheung.

The Cavan Monaghan TD said that such legislation is “clearly open” to abuse in Ireland as well, warning that republican commemorations could be at risk.  

“Who decides?” he said. 

“If we use the language of ‘glorifying a terrorist activity’, that’s the language that the DUP use for anyone who attends a republican commemoration. 

“So, we’re going to have a Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan moving this legislation; Jim, as everyone knows, aspires to be a Fianna Fáil leader and a Taoiseach someday. 

“He could attend Bodenstown commemoration, celebrating Wolfe Tone; he could attend an event at the GPO, there are people who believe that is glorifying [terrorism].” 

Members of the Irish Defence Forces during a commemoration to mark 93rd anniversary of the 1916 Rising, at the General Post Office, in O'Connell Street, Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Deputy Carthy added that he would welcome a “big debate in terms of people’s views on history”, but said that none of that should be criminalised. 

“The question people have to ask is whether or not somebody who has one particular view on the conflict in Ireland, or indeed any other conflict, deserves to be in prison for 10 years,” he said.  

Main image: A ceremony to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Picture by: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie.