Deputy Helen McEntee:

The time limits provided for in law reflect the fact that an individual should not have something hanging over him or her for potentially 40 years. As it is a summary offence, it is not seen as being as severe an offence. One could have something which would be quite disproportionate 40 years later come under the same rules as a much more severe or harmful incident. All the other offences are covered without time limits in the rest of the Bill. Two years is the maximum increase from six months that has been provided for in the 1851 Act, so I am minded to stick to the two years for this specific offence given that it is a summary offence. As it is the District Court, it is a lesser offence than the others we are discussing.