Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 57:

In page 42, line 5, after "oath" to insert "or affirmation".

This is a standard provision that is not adequately covered by the Interpretation Act 1937. I want to make this clear before the Minister of State tells me it is covered. Many statutes provide expressly for the possibility of oath or affirmation, a classic example being the Tribunal of Inquiries Act, which is still the fundamental law relating to tribunals in the State. It is the norm to insert "oath" or "affirmation" in Bills. I urge the Minister to accept the amendment rather than say that it is covered by some catch-all enactment elsewhere.

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