The group of 9 TDs welcome that their private members motion received cross party support for the Perjury & Related Offences Bill 2018.
The Regional Group’s motion received Government support to immediately establish the Dáil Select Committee on Justice and for Committee Stage of the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018 to be the first item of business on the agenda before the 31st of October.
We as lawmakers whether in Government or independent have the means to affect real change. Good laws can be formulated and advanced by individual members. The Perjury & Offences Bill 2018 is one of these Bills. It is now time to pass and enact this Bill without further delay.
While perjury is currently a common law offence in Ireland, it is very difficult to prosecute. This law will penalise those who lie under oath for personal gain. Claims place a burden of hundreds of millions of euros annually on charities, sporting bodies, motorists, homeowners and business owners through excessive insurance cost.
This Bill is not just about insurance claims, it is about the core administration of justice in our society.
We will continue to endeavour that the commitment to enact this Bill is honoured before the year’s end.
The nine TDs involved are: Cathal Berry (Kildare South); Sean Canney (Galway East); Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth); Noel Grealish (Galway West); Michael Lowry (Tipperary); Verona Murphy (Wexford); Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway); Matt Shanahan (Waterford) and Peadar Tóibín (Meath West).