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Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 15 Dec 1922

Vol. 2 No. 7

ADAPTATION OF BRITISH ENACTMENTS BILL. - INTERPRETATION OF DUBLIN GAZETTE.

4. —Every mention of or reference to theDublin Gazette contained in any Act of the British Parliament having the force of law in Saorstát Eireann shall, as respects the doing or not doing of any act, matter or thing in Saorstát Eireann after the 6th day of December, 1922, be construed and take effect as a mention of or reference to Iris Oifigiûil.

I move the following amendments:—

In Section 4, lines 21 and 22, delete the words "Act of the British Parliament having the force of law in Saorstát Eireann" and substitute the words "British Statute."

In line 25, immediately after the word "to" and before the word "Iris" insert the words "Official Gazette called."

What is the particular necessity for the words "Official Gazette" at all?

The necessity for these words is that they have a remarkable significance. Every announcement or appointment made of a certain standing has to be gazetted here. Every notice in it is accepted as evidence of the fact that that notice is admitted or to be admitted in courts of law. That is why it should be called Official Gazette. There must be some distinction and it is accepted generally as the Government organ for official announcements.

I think the President has rather missed the point of my question. What I asked was, what was the necessity of having the words "Official Gazette" at all?

Identification.

What is the necessity for these words? Would not the use of the two words "Iris Oifigiúil" be sufficient just as in the first line of that paragraph the words "Dublin Gazette" are a sufficient definition?

That may be, but it may not be generally known, and people may be looking for the "Dublin Gazette" as formerly, and it is in order to mark the difference and to show the change that has taken place.

I think the insertion of these words is objectionable. You are playing up to the people who do not take the trouble to know that the words "Iris Oifigiúil" indicate the Official Gazette. I do not think these words should be inserted there any more than we should say the "Official Gazette called The Dublin Gazette" if it was in English.

As a matter of fact "Irish Oifigiúil" was never by Statute defined as the Official Gazette. This in effect does make it the Official Gazette.

Amendments put and agreed to.
Motion made and question put: "That Section 4, as amended, stand part of the Bill.
Agreed.
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