Laws in Ireland
How Ireland is classified on 41 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Illegal Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are criminal offenses under Irish law, with significant prison sentences.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Unregulated Surrogacy is unregulated in Ireland, with no specific legislation governing the practice.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is not regulated as currency, but holding and trading it is lawful.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Using a crossing within 15m is mandatory, making jaywalking an offence.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Ireland has a nationwide comprehensive smoke-free law covering all workplaces and public places, effective since 2004.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Banned Fur farming is banned.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 17.
- Sex Work
- Buying illegal (Nordic model) Selling sex is legal, but buying sex has been an offence since 2017.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law The blasphemy offence was removed by referendum in 2018 and repealed in 2020.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Legal / protected speech There is no specific criminal law against flag desecration, only advisory guidelines.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No ban is currently in force as previous bills failed and new legislation is only proposed.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are limited to low-caliber types and personal protection is rarely granted, indicating a restrictive regime.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment in schools is prohibited and a criminal offence in Ireland since 1997.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Jury trials used Jury trials are a standard feature of the criminal justice system and specific civil defamation cases.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is a controlled drug under Irish law, prohibiting possession and supply.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.