Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. I acknowledge the work on this legislation. I recall speaking on the previous legislation in 2015. There were all sorts of weird and wonderful things back then and this is no different. I would just like a small bit of clarity.

The Minister of State mentioned section 2(2), which specifies all instruments "made before 1 January 1821 that were retained" and those that were "made on or after 1 January 1821 and before 1 January 1861". As a former Minister of State with responsibility for natural resources, I know that the Act that established the Geological Survey of Ireland is from 1845. I am presuming that is not included in this. It is something that is still enforced, however. When I was Minister of State, there was talk of updating the Geological Survey Act, which was an Act to facilitate the completion of a geological survey of the island. This is common sense.

I wonder in some cases why there was the need for these sorts of laws, some of which refer to apprehending people for various crimes and allegations. I picked out a number that caught my eye, as they would with me being from County Galway: Reference Number 2012 from 13 April 1830 - "Proclamation for apprehending the persons who maliciously set fire to the house and offices ... near Woodford, not far from the town of Loughrea"; Reference Number 229 from 17 September 1830 - "Proclamation for apprehending the persons who murdered Patrick McDonnell, late Deputy Clerk of the Peace for Co. Galway, whose body was found in a cellar in Shop Street, Co. Galway"; Reference Number 259 from 26 May 1831 - "Proclamation for apprehending the persons who fired at and caused the death of Sub-Constable Hugh Campbell while he was riding through the demesne of Dalystown, near the town of Loughrea, Co. Galway"; Reference Number 276 from 7 January 1832 - "Proclamation for apprehending the persons who attacked and likely killed Michael Francis near the Grotto of Dangan, opposite the village of Menlough ... [in County] Galway". There are a lot of very interesting historical issues here.

It makes perfect sense that this sort of tidying up would be done with regard to the legislation. I note Reference Number 44, again, an interesting one from 4 February 1822 - "Order approving a new Great Seal for Ireland". Thankfully, we got our own seal in 1921. It is in the Cabinet room, which I had the pleasure of seeing when I was there briefly. It is an important act of tidying up. I look forward to the progression of this Bill through the Houses.