Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The penalties are a very important part of the proposed legislation. The maximum sentence of seven years is actually taken from a recommendation of the Law Reform Commission and also in line with the legislation on perjury in Northern Ireland. The research and background work done on the section are related to it. We have also had numerous discussions with officials in the Department. The Minister may wish to reflect on this before Report Stage. I wanted to share with Members and the Minister, in particular, where the thinking behind the section came from.