James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Members for supporting the former Senator, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, in bringing this Bill in the first place. It shows the importance of relying on all the abilities across the Houses and not simply on Departments. That is an important point to make. I wish to pay tribute to my Department for taking up this Bill and for the hard work the officials have put into it as well as the work of previous and current Ministers in the Department.

Mr. Ó Céidigh introduced this legislation in 2018 as a Private Members' Bill. He was instrumental in the successful passage of the Bill as was the cross-party support. A debt of gratitude is owed to the former Senator.

Historically, it has been difficult to prosecute perjury and subornation of perjury as a common law offence. This new Bill will make it effective. It will streamline the process and make prosecutions far easier by putting the offence on a clear statutory footing.

Perjury, fraudulent claims and exaggerated claims have a significant impact on our businesses and on the premiums people have to pay. They undermine justice when people can get away with making false statements. It is part of the plan of the Government on insurance reform. As was rightly pointed out by Senator Ward, this will apply to family law and other civil law cases. It will also apply to criminal law because sometimes we see people bringing forward false alibis. This will not only make it an offence for people to perjure but to seek for someone to perjure as well. It is a historic Bill in that this will be codified for the first time. It is most welcome and I thank the Houses for their support.