Under current legislative proposals, the maximum prison term for such offenses was specified as seven years.
Approval was be sought on Wednesday morning from the Irish Cabinet for proposed legislation aimed at tackling the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.
The original Bill was drafted by Labour leader Brendan Howlin and would see those convicted face a $5,600 (€5,000) fine, six months in prison or both.
"We need to have harassment laws fit for the digital age to cover cyber-bullying and revenge porn," The Labour Party said in a statement.
"Today the Government will consider our proposals on how we can tackle online harassment."
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The proposed new offenses include the non-consensual distribution of intimate images with the intent to cause harm – commonly known as 'revenge porn' – and harassment across all forms of communication, including online.
The bill also includes a specific offense of stalking and an expansion of the existing offense to include the sending of threatening or indecent messages to apply to all forms of online communications.
Under Deputy Howlin's legislative proposals, the maximum prison term for such offenses was specified as seven years.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan Cabinet will seek approval from Cabinet in Cork's City Hall this morning. If proposals are agreed, the Government amendments will be drafted on a priority basis so that it can progress in the Dáil (Irish parliament).
Earlier this year, the act of 'upskirting' – taking a non-consensual photo up a person's skirt or kilt – was made illegal in England and Wales.
This followed the dogged campaigning of the writer and activist Gina Martin who had an upskirt photo taken of her a year prior. The London-based freelancer – who was helped along the way by a number of MPs – drafted a Bill making the practice illegal.
What do you make of the proposed prison terms? Let us know in the comments section, below.
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