An Bille um Líonraí Cumarsáide Leictreonaí Poiblí (Úsáid Mhíchuí), 2015
Public Electronic Communications Networks (Improper Use) Bill 2015

Mar a tionscnaíodh
As initiated

[No. 36 of 2015]

 AN BILLE UM LÍONRAÍ CUMARSÁIDE LEICTREONAÍ POIBLÍ (ÚSÁID
MHÍCHUÍ), 2015
PUBLIC ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (IMPROPER USE) BILL
2015
Mar a tionscnaíodh
As initiated

CONTENTS
Section
1. Amendment of section 13 of Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951

2. Short title

[No. 36 of 2015]

 ACTS REFERRED TO
Broadcasting Act 2009 (No. 18)
Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007 (No. 22)
Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951 (No. 17)
Post Office Act 1908 (8 Edw. 8, c. 48)

2

 AN BILLE UM LÍONRAÍ CUMARSÁIDE LEICTREONAÍ POIBLÍ (ÚSÁID
MHÍCHUÍ), 2015
PUBLIC ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS (IMPROPER USE) BILL
2015

Bill

5

entitled

An Act to provide for certain offences in connection with the improper use of public
electronic communications networks; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:
Amendment of section 13 of Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951
1.

10

The Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951 is amended in section 13, as substituted by
section 4 of and Schedule 1 to the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007,
by the substitution of the following section:
“Offences in connection with public electronic communications networks
13. (1) A person who—

15

(a) sends or causes to be sent, by means of a public electronic
communications network, a message or other matter that is grossly
offensive or is indecent, obscene or menacing, or
(b) for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless
anxiety to another—

20

(i) sends or causes to be sent, by means of a public electronic
communications network, a message that the sender knows to be
false, or
(ii) persistently and without reasonable cause makes use of a public
electronic communications network,

25

is guilty of an offence.
(2) In subsection (1), ‘public electronic communications network’ means
an electronic communications network (within the meaning of the
European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and
Services) (Framework) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 333 of 2011)), that
is provided wholly or mainly for the purpose of making available to
members of the public, whether on payment or otherwise, electronic
communications services (within the meaning of those Regulations).

3

30

 (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the transmission, distribution or relay
of a broadcasting service, within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act
2009.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a Class A fine or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding 12 months, or to both,

5

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €75,000 or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both.
(5) An offence under subsection (1) is an offence under the Post Office
Act 1908.

10

(6) On convicting a person for an offence under subsection (1), the court
may, in addition to any other penalty imposed for the offence, order
any apparatus, equipment or other thing used in the course of
committing the offence to be forfeited to the State.”.
Short title
2.

15

This Act may be cited as the Public Electronic Communications Networks (Improper
Use) Act 2015.

4

 An Bille um Líonraí Cumarsáide Leictreonaí Public Electronic Communications Networks
Poiblí (Úsáid Mhíchuí), 2015
(Improper Use) Bill 2015

BILLE

BILL

(mar a tionscnaíodh)

(as initiated)

dá ngairtear

entitled

Acht do dhéanamh socrú maidir le cionta áirithe i An Act to provide for certain offences in connection
dtaca le húsáid mhíchuí líonraí cumarsáide
with the improper use of public electronic
leictreonaí poiblí; agus do dhéanamh socrú i
communications networks; and to provide for
dtaobh nithe gaolmhara.
related matters.

An Teachta Pádraic Ó Coinín a thug isteach,

Introduced by Deputy Pat Rabbitte,

16 Aibreán, 2015

16th April, 2015

BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH
ARNA FHOILSIÚ AG OIFIG AN tSOLÁTHAIR
Le ceannach díreach ó

FOILSEACHÁIN RIALTAIS,
52 FAICHE STIABHNA, BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH 2.
(Teil: 01 - 6476834 nó 1890 213434; Fax: 01 - 6476843)
nó trí aon díoltóir leabhar.

——————
DUBLIN
PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE
To be purchased from

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS,
52 ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN, DUBLIN 2.
(Tel: 01 - 6476834 or 1890 213434; Fax: 01 - 6476843)
or through any bookseller.

€1.27
Wt. 71216. 613. 4/15. Clondalkin. (51099). Gr.30-15.