The Cabinet has approved plans to create new criminal offences aimed at combating revenge porn and online harassment.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has secured Government backing for amendments to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill.
Minister Flanagan and officials are working with the bill's original sponsor, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to progress it on a priority basis.
It proposes new offences dealing with non-consensual distribution of intimate images, with intent to cause harm or distress - more commonly known as 'revenge pornography'.
The taking and distribution of intimate images without consent, whether or not there is intent to cause harm or distress, would also be an offence.
Harassment in the bill would include all forms of communication - including through online or digital communications - or communications about another person.
The bill also provides for the expansion of the existing offence of sending threatening or indecent messages, and a specific offence of stalking.
Stalking-type behaviour is currently prosecuted under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
One of those amendments would also add a separate offence to deal with upskirting.
"Our law isn't effective"
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting in Cork, Minister Flanagan said: "Today's agreement by Government means that the Office of the Attorney-General can begin drafting the Government amendments to the bill on a priority basis so that we can advance it through the Oireachtas as soon as possible.
"I wish to acknowledge the work of the Law Reform Commission and the co-operation of Deputy Brendan Howlin, the sponsor of this Private Members' Bill.
"Deputy Howlin has worked constructively with my department officials and the Attorney-General to ensure that this important bill can progress."
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) has also welcomed the announcement.
CEO Noeline Blackwell said: "If you take an intimate photo or film of another person without their permission, or you share it without their consent, you are violating that person's dignity and their right to privacy.
"It is wrong to do that: and we know from our work that it can be really harmful to the person whose privacy and dignity is invaded in this way.
"As it stands, our law isn't effective to prosecute such harm."
Ms Blackwell added: "Today's commitment to outlaw the abuse of intimate images must move swiftly and in tandem with the promise to update online safety laws and appoint a digital safety commissioner.
"They are two sides of the same coin and both are needed urgently to improve the safety of our society and to prevent further harm to people within it".
Earlier, Tara Brown from the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) said: "Digital technology has opened up new methods for perpetrators to undertake violence against women.
"Increasingly, rape crisis centres are hearing from women who have been harmfully impacted by violations including grooming, pornography, sexting, harmful communications and improper use of personal images.
"NWCI welcomes Minister Charlie Flanagan's commitment to progressing this legislation.
"We also welcome Government amendments to provide for a separate offence to deal with another image-based form of harmful communication - what is termed"upskirting".
"It is important that the legislation defines harassment as including all forms of communication, including the exchange of images from one person to another as well as posting an image online without consent."
With reporting from Michael Staines and Sean Defoe
