Michael Lowry Welcomes New Bill Aimed At Severely Penalising Perjury

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Deputy Michael Lowry

Deputy Michael Lowry has welcomed changes that mean that those who lie under oath for personal gain will now face fines of up to €100,000 or up to ten years imprisonment.

‘IT’s hoped this will help cuRb insurance costs’

‘It’s hoped this will help curb insurance costs and white-collar crime’ he says. The Minister for Justice has signed the Commencement Order for the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act, which now sends a clear message to anyone engaged in legal proceedings that they must tell the truth or face significant financial penalties. This Bill was originally initiated by former Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh.

At that time it received cross party support when it passed in the Seanad. The passage of this new law has been a priority for the Regional Group of TDs, which includes Deputy Lowry, who last year had the legislation that was already passed by Seanad Éireann, reinstated on the Dáil legislation programme.

Deputy Lowry says that placing perjury on the statute books is not just about penalising those who commit perjury, it is about preventing those from doing it in the first place. Tough sanctions may make someone think twice about lying and perverting the course of justice said the Thurles based TD.

The Government parties had also included it in the current Programme for Government.