Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

To echo the comments of Senator Brian Hayes, will this be an ongoing process, whereby legislation that is no longer relevant is to be removed from the Statute Book? If this is so, an understandable body of legislation will emerge which will have meaning for people. That would be beneficial. The Minister of State probably did not think this would be part of his job when he began it, but I am sure he enjoys it.

The language is fascinating. For example, the Adulteration of Coffee Act 1718 states that people, "after the roasting of coffee made use of water, grease, butter...whereby the [coffee] is rendered unwholsom and greatly increased in weight to the prejudice of the health of [subjects]". "Rendered" is now a bad word.