Is Pornhub blocked in Ireland?
No. Ireland has no age-verification law for porn sites, and no bill is moving as of October 26, 2026.
Since 21 July 2025, Ireland's Online Safety Code has required designated video-sharing platforms under Irish jurisdiction, such as X, to use effective age checks to keep children away from pornography; self-declared ages are not enough. The Code does not cover dedicated porn sites, which are based in other countries and regulated under EU law. A private member's bill that would require age verification from every porn site serving Ireland passed Second Stage in the Seanad on 8 July 2026. The Government did not oppose it but says it conflicts with EU law, and it has not advanced since.
The rules
| Status | No law |
|---|---|
| Enforcement | Coimisiún na Meán supervises designated platforms. On 8 September 2026 it opened its first formal Online Safety Code investigation, into X's age assurance and parental controls. |
Ireland's Online Safety Code has required age assurance for pornography since 21 July 2025, but only on designated video-sharing platforms headquartered in Ireland (such as X), so it doesn't reach sites like Pornhub. A Seanad bill requiring age verification for all porn services passed Second Stage on 8 July 2026 but has had no hearing or vote since, and the Government says it conflicts with EU law, so it doesn't count as a bill that is moving.
Is Pornhub available in Ireland?
Pornhub is not established in Ireland and is outside the Online Safety Code. The European Commission's March 2026 preliminary findings say Pornhub admits EU users with a click-through age declaration; the Commission, not the Irish regulator, supervises it under the DSA.
Timeline
- Coimisiún na Meán adopts the final Online Safety Code. [1]
- Part B of the Online Safety Code takes effect, requiring designated platforms to use effective age assurance for pornography. [11]
- Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026 introduced in the Seanad (First Stage). [6]
- The Seanad agrees the bill's Second Stage without a division. The Government does not oppose it but says it conflicts with the Digital Services Act and the GDPR. Committee Stage, ordered for 14 July 2026, has not been taken. [8]
- Coimisiún na Meán opens its first Online Safety Code investigation, into X's age assurance and parental controls. [5]
Courts and enforcement
- Investigation into X over age assurance for adult-only video (including pornography) and parental controls (first Online Safety Code investigation) (Coimisiún na Meán, Sep 8, 2026). open; no finding yet. Source
Bills to watch
- Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026 (No. 77 of 2026). Private member's bill from Senator Rónán Mullen and eight other senators requiring any website controller that publishes pornographic content to verify the age of anyone in the State before giving access, including to AI-generated content and porn apps in app stores. It applies wherever the site is based. Penalties would reach €500,000 and/or up to 10 years' imprisonment on indictment. It would take effect six months after passing. The Government did not oppose Second Stage but said the bill conflicts with the Digital Services Act's full harmonisation and hosting liability rules and with the GDPR, and gives Coimisiún na Meán no role. First Stage 2 July 2026; Second Stage agreed in Seanad Éireann on 8 July 2026 without a division. Committee Stage was ordered for 14 July 2026 but has not been taken; no further proceedings as of 26 October 2026.
- Government digital wallet / age-verification tool. The Department of Communications says a new government digital wallet and a separate age-verification tool will 'support compliance' with age restrictions, possibly including porn sites. in development; the wallet was in beta testing in June 2026, and on 8 July 2026 the Minister of State said the age-verification tool will follow the EU blueprint and only confirm whether a user is over 18
Related laws
- Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán) (effective Jul 21, 2025). Designated platforms that allow adult content (such as X) must use effective age assurance so children cannot normally see pornography; self-declaration does not count (section 12.10). Made under Part 8B of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Code applies only to video-sharing platforms under Irish jurisdiction (section 2.2), meaning established in Ireland or, for a provider outside the EU, with a parent, subsidiary or group company in Ireland (Broadcasting Act 2009, s. 2B). Fines up to €20 million or 10% of relevant annual turnover. Dedicated porn sites based elsewhere are not covered. In force since 21 July 2025 for the video-sharing platforms Coimisiún na Meán has designated as under Irish jurisdiction
- Digital Services Act (effective Feb 17, 2024). Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland's Digital Services Coordinator; porn platforms based elsewhere are regulated by their home state or, for very large platforms such as Pornhub, the European Commission.
Sources
- Coimisiún na Meán adopts final Online Safety Code (cnam.ie) Regulator · Oct 21, 2024
- Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán) (cnam.ie) Regulator · Oct 2024
- Broadcasting Act 2009, s. 2B: meaning of "under the jurisdiction of the State" for video-sharing platforms (revised act, Law Reform Commission) (revisedacts.lawreform.ie) Statute · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Register of designated online services (Coimisiún na Meán) (cnam.ie) Regulator · Sep 12, 2025
- Investigation commenced into X under Online Safety Code (Coimisiún na Meán) (cnam.ie) Regulator · Sep 8, 2026
- Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026 (Houses of the Oireachtas) (oireachtas.ie) Legislature · Jul 2, 2026
- Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026 (as initiated) (data.oireachtas.ie) Legislature · Jul 2, 2026
- Seanad Éireann debate, 8 July 2026: Protection of Children (Online Age Verification) Bill 2026, Second Stage (official record, Houses of the Oireachtas open data) (data.oireachtas.ie) Legislature · Jul 8, 2026
- Bill 77 of 2026: stages (Houses of the Oireachtas open-data API) (api.oireachtas.ie) Legislature · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Commission preliminarily finds PornHub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos in breach of the DSA (IP/26/722) (ec.europa.eu) Government · Mar 26, 2026
- Coimisiún na Meán adopts Online Safety Code and associated guidance (A&L Goodbody) (algoodbody.com) News · Nov 29, 2024
- X faces Irish investigation over concerns children not protected from pornography and violence (Irish Times) (irishtimes.com) News · Sep 8, 2026
- Ireland could require digital ID to access porn websites (Irish Times) (irishtimes.com) News · Jun 11, 2026
- The Online Safety Code: Q&A (Matheson) (matheson.com) News · Dec 6, 2024
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.