Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Section 49 of the Bill re-enacts the substance of section 2 of the Statute of Frauds Act 1695 which requires written evidence of the contract relating to land to be produced in court if enforcement of the contract is sought. However, section 2 of the Statute of Frauds also deals with other matters such as contracts relating to guarantees, contracts upon a consideration of marriage and agreements not to be performed within a year. As these matters are outside the scope of the Bill, it is necessary to restrict the scope of the repeal to this particular issue, which is contracts for the sale or disposition of estates or interests in land.