Naughten welcomes new penalties for lying under oath

The Minister for Justice has signed the Commencement Order for the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act, which a local TD said now sends a clear message to anyone engaged in legal proceedings that they must tell the truth.

Those who lie under oath for personal gain will now face fines of up to €100,000 or up to ten years imprisonment and it's hoped this will help curb insurance costs and white-collar crime.

The passage of this new law has been a priority for the Regional Group of TDs, which includes local Deputy Denis Naughten, who last year had the legislation that was already passed by Seanad Éireann, reinstated on the Dáil legislation programme.

Commenting on the new law, Denis Naughten TD said “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 diverting the course of justice”.

He went on to point out that “the financial consequences of perjury and fraudulent claims can be devastating to people’s lives and businesses. In some cases, resulting in people losing their livelihoods”.

This bill was originally initiated by former Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh received cross party support when it passed in the Seanad. The Government have included it in the current Programme for Government.

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).