Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I was looking for the Pavements Act but I could not find it so we must be keeping that. It must be deemed necessary.

The Pillory Abolition Act is being repealed. Pillory was a punishment where a person was locked in stocks with his or her head and hands sticking through holes, and turnips or whatever else people could spare were thrown at him or her. Perhaps it would be good to still have that practice. One could have a great time sticking one's enemies into the stocks and throwing whatever one wanted at them.

I also think of the people who drew up the legislation and their job in Parliament. Women did not have votes until much later. One must pay tribute to the legislators of those days for the way in which they wished to better the lives of people, as exemplified in the regulations relating to chimney sweeping. One had to be under the age of 21 to work as a chimney sweep. Various movements in Britain at the time attempted to outlaw some of these pernicious practices in which children were employed. An example of such legislation was the Children (Dangerous Performances) Act 1879. If one was under 14, one could not be in a public exhibition or performance where the life or limbs of a child could be endangered.

I loved the Captive Birds Shooting (Prohibition) Act which prevented one from releasing captive birds for shooting. We often think of royalty and members of the aristocracy out shooting. Perhaps they do not shoot captive birds.