Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 32:

In page 9, subsection (1), line 28, to delete "on" and substitute "following".

I have been reliably informed of an important principle in law, which states that ignorance of the law is no defence. One cannot use in court the fact that one has no knowledge of the law as a defence against a charge. I will read the current drafting of section 15(1) for the attention of Senators: "The date of the passing of an Act of the Oireachtas is the date of the day on which the Bill for the Act is signed by the President." This means an Act has automatic application once it is signed by the President. The principle that ignorance of the law is no defence is a core principle in our democracy. This amendment proposes that the word "on" be replaced with "following" so that the date of the passing of an Act of the Oireachtas is the date of the day following which the Bill for the Act is signed by the President. This will at least allow people time to have some knowledge of the legislation in question. As currently drafted, the provision suggests that one must have automatic knowledge of the legislation when the President signs it.