Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These are a number of technical and typographical amendments. They are grouped together for consideration, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle outlined. Amendment No. 7 reflects the change in name of what is now the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Amendment No. 11 is a transitional provision to ensure that medical evidence certificates signed prior to the changes made to section 25 of the 1997 Act coming into effect will remain valid and will not be affected.

Amendments Nos. 12 and 14 correct typographical errors which were identified in section 28. Amendment No. 26 addresses a minor drafting issue in the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 to clarify that in the relevant section both a fine and imprisonment may be imposed. Amendment No. 28 addresses a minor cross-referencing issue in the Garda Síochána Act 2005 arising from a subsequent amendment. A further set of amendments provide for consequential changes to a number of other enactments arising from the new non-fatal strangulation offences.

Sections 3A and 4A are being inserted into the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The effect of these amendments to is extend existing provisions which are currently applicable to the existing section 3, assault causing harm, and section 4, causing serious harm, offences, so that they will now also cover section 3A and-or section 4A offences, which is non-fatal strangulation.

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