Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note what the Minister of State said but the key point I am making is that one does not normally find a restriction on another Act included in a definition or interpretation section. I accept that it is not legally wrong to do so and that this is, in effect, a technical issue. I will not be pressing the amendments.

This Private Members' Bill was introduced by former Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh in 2018. I commend him on his determination in getting it passed. The Bill seeks to remedy some of the issues in the law of perjury by codifying and consolidating the law in this area. It provides a definition of the offence of perjury and consolidates the various ancillary aspects provided for in legislation over the past several centuries. It also makes extensive amendments to various, often ancient, Acts to reflect this consolidation. The Bill is long overdue and, when enacted, will make perjury a statutory criminal offence in Ireland for the first time. The absence of a statutory criminal offence of perjury weakens our court system and opens it to abuse.

The Bill was well drafted with the assistance of Mr. Kieran Mooney of the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers. His expertise has been invaluable. I thank the Minister of State and his officials, Barry Fulham and Sandra Smith, for working closely and engaging with the Regional Group over the past few months in strengthening the Bill. It has had full cross-party support since its introduction in the Seanad. I thank the Members of both Houses for their support for it. I thank my Regional Group colleagues for continuing to keep the legislation highlighted and moving forward since its reinstatement last July. This Bill demonstrates how much can be achieved by working together.

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