Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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434. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps taken to date to carry out a review of the provisions in the Offences Against the State Act 1939, as committed to by her predecessor on 24 June during a debate in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42993/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the provisions of the Offences Against the State legislation were the subject of comprehensive independent review in the period 2001-2002 when the Hederman Committee carried out its work.

My predecessor committed to a review of the provisions of the legislation during a debate on the renewal of certain provisions of the Offences Against the State (amendment) Act 1998 in Dáil Éireann during the summer and I gave a similar commitment during the subsequent renewal debate in the Seanad.

I can inform the Deputy that work is ongoing to establish a Committee to undertake an independent review of the legislation. He will appreciate the importance of ensuring that the Committee is established with the requisite independence, expertise and experience and with due regard to the current COVID challenges.

While the challenges of Covid have impacted on this work to some extent, it is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government on this matter early in the New Year.