The core purpose of this amending legislation is twofold. It seeks, first, to explicitly prohibit the creation of non-consensual intimate or otherwise harmful imagery and, second, to extend the period during which proceedings may be initiated, thereby ensuring victims are not denied justice due to the often slow discovery of online offences. Coco's Law, the 2020 Act brought through the House by my predecessor in Wexford, Brendan Howlin, working with the inspirational Jackie Fox, already criminalises the distribution of intimate images without consent and addresses a large range of harmful online communications. Unfortunately, however, gaps remain. One of the most significant is the absence of a clear stand-alone offence of the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery. As technology advances, individual facilitators such as Elon Musk and others, and, indeed, the deviants in our towns, villages, neighbourhoods and households, can fabricate intimate images using very accessible editing tools or AI-based systems, even where no original image exists. This form of abuse can be as damaging as the sharing of real images, yet the current legislation does not fully capture the act of creation itself. This amending legislation would close that loophole by making it an offence to produce, alter or manipulate imagery depicting a person in an intimate or compromising context without his or her consent regardless of whether the image is subsequently shared. We often hear of these images being used to mentally torture or coercively control. The second major reform, extending the timeframe for initiating proceedings, responds to the reality that victims often only discover these harmful images and content long after they are created or circulated. Online material can be hidden, shared anonymously or stored on private platforms, making timely detection often difficult. The existing six-month window for summary offences can therefore be unreasonably restrictive. By lengthening this period, this amendment would give An Garda Síochána and prosecutors greater flexibility to act, and it would acknowledge the unique challenges posed by digital evidence, delayed reporting and the emotional trauma many victims face before coming forward. Together, these changes would modernise the 2020 Act, reinforce the State's commitment to protecting individuals from digital exploitation and ensure the law keeps pace with emerging forms of online harm. They would also send a clear societal message that the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery is a serious violation of personal autonomy and that victims deserve adequate time and legal support to pursue justice. The perpetrators of these heinous, devious and cowardly crimes should have, and will have, no place to hide. To the victims I say that what they have endured is not a small thing. Having their image or even a fabricated version of them used without their consent is a profound violation of dignity and trust. None of that is their fault. The harm lies entirely with those who chose to misuse technology and exploit their privacy. They deserve to hear that clearly. The victims are not alone in this experience even though it may have felt that way. Many people suffer in silence because shame and fear convince them they have no voice. However, their voices matter. Their stories matter. The emotional weight of discovering that an intimate or harmful image has been created without their consent can and has been overwhelming, and it is completely valid to feel anger, frustration and, sometimes, even grief. This is not a journey they should have to walk without support. As legislators, we have a responsibility to ensure the law keeps pace with the reality of digital harm. As we all know, technology moves and evolves quickly and so must the protections that safeguard the rights of the people affected. We in this House must be committed to strengthening the law so that the creation of these images is treated with the seriousness it deserves. We simply have to work to ensure that victims are not denied justice simply because these offences often come to light after they occur. Victims must know they will not be left behind. Their experiences must shape stronger protections, clearer accountability and a legal system that recognises the depth of the harm they have faced.

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