I beg to move the Second Reading of this Bill. It is necessary to provide by statute a legal method of proving acts of the Oireachtas and other official instruments. In the absence of such special statutory provision, the ordinary rules of law would apply, and it would be necessary to produce in court the original Statute or Order whenever it was required to prove same. The simplest and most satisfactory method of proof is by the production of a copy of the Statute or Order purporting to be printed under the authority of the Stationery Office. As a corollary to this, and in order to prevent abuses, it is necessary to provide penalties for persons printing or publishing copies of official documents and falsely representing same as having been printed under the authority of the Stationery Office. On the Committee Stage, I can deal with each section as it arises.
DAIL IN COMMITTEE. - DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BILL, 1925—SECOND STAGE.
Question—"That the Bill be read a second time"—put and agreed to.
Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 2nd June.
resumed the Chair.