Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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613. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 21 October 2020, when she expects to take Committee Stage of the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018, as agreed following the Private Members' motion on 29 July 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40442/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to enacting the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018 as soon as possible. The importance the Government attaches to this legislation is reflected in our commitment to enact it in the current Programme for Government

Committee Stage had been scheduled for 22 January 2020, but as the Deputy will be aware, the Bill lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil and has only recently been restored to the Dáil Order Paper.

Since then and upon the advice of the Office of the Attorney General, additional observations were sought from other Government Departments. The outcome of these consultations have been factored into a second round of Committee Stage amendments.

Additionally, following the enactment of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act in August, my officials have been drafting amendments to allow for the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018 to take account of one of the measures provided for in that Act relating to ‘statements of truth’. Statements of truth may be submitted in civil proceedings as an alternative to statutory declarations. The introduction of statements of truth has necessitated the consideration of drafting of a number of further amendments to the Bill. My Department has also recently received some further observations from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions which are currently being examined with a view to finalising the Government amendments to be brought at Committee Stage. These developments, unforeseen at the time of the July Private Member’s Motion, have slightly delayed the taking of Committee Stage.

I hope to be in a position to be able to take Committee Stage in January 2021. With the support of both houses, I hope the Bill can be enacted in early 2021.