Warm welcome for perjury legislation

ISME, the Irish SME Association, has expressed “delight” at the introduction of the new Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018.

The bill was introduced by Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh and co-sponsored by Senator Michael McDowell, Senator Ian Marshall, and Senator Victor Boyhan. The second stage debate will take place on October 24.

Speaking after the bill was introduced, ISME CEO Neil McDonnell said the lobby group was extremely pleased to see the legislation coming before the house.

“We have campaigned for more than a year for the introduction of a statutory offence. It is a disgrace that our courts are weekly hosts to a tragicomedy of lies, told in order to extort damages from innocent motorists, business owners and householders for false or exaggerated personal injuries,” he sad.

“Of course a statutory offence of perjury will not eliminate these claims, but it will place dishonest claimants in real moral hazard when they go before a judge. We also look forward to the impact a robust perjury statute will have in tackling white-collar crime,” he said.

“On behalf of ISME’s National Council and members, I would like to thank Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh for his hard work on this bill, and his Seanad colleagues for agreeing to co-sponsor it. We look forward to a robust debate at the second stage and the support of all TDs and Senators, of all parties and none,” Mr McDonnell added.

ISME previously said a new perjury law is required to end the cultural tolerance among the judiciary and some sections of society for telling lies for cash. Currently, perjury is prosecuted under common law and is not on the statute books.