Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944

Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1944 Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944 Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 8 of 1944. CONSTITUTION (VERIFICATION OF PETITION) ACT, 1944. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Verification of signatures of members of Dáil Eireann. 2. Verification of signatures of members of Seanad Eireann. 3. Acceptance of verification as sufficient evidence. 4. Offences and penalties. 5. Short title. Act Referred to Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 No. 38 of 1923 Number 8 of 1944. CONSTITUTION (VERIFICATION OF PETITION) ACT, 1944. AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER IN WHICH SIGNATURES TO A PETITION PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT UNDER ARTICLE 27 OF THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE VERIFIED. [20th March, 1944.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Verification of signatures of members of Dáil Eireann. 1.—Every signature of a member of Dáil Eireann to a petition presented to the President under Article 27 of the Constitution shall be verified either— (a) by a certificate, in whichever of the following forms is appropriate, signed by the Clerk of Dáil Eireann, or the Clerk-Assistant of Dáil Eireann and written on the petition beside or immediately below the signature or signatures to which it relates, that is to say:— (i) where the certificate relates to one signature only:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above) signature is the signature of A. B., a member of Dáil Eireann. ______________________ Clerk (or Clerk-Assistant) of Dáil Eireann.” (ii) where the certificate relates to two or more signatures:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above)_____________ signatures are the respective signatures of A. B., C. D., E. F., etc. each of whom is a member of Dáil Eireann. ______________________ Clerk (or Clerk-Assistant) of Dáil Eireann.” or (b) by a certificate in the following form signed by a Justice of the District Court, a Commissioner for Oaths, or an officer of the Gárda Síochána not below the rank of Superintendent, and written on the petition beside or immediately below the signature to which it relates, that is to say:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above) signature is the signature of A. B., who is personally known to me and is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a member of Dáil Eireann. ______________________ Justice of the District Court (or Commissioner for Oaths or_______ of the Gárda Síochána).” Verification of signatures of members of Seanad Eireann. 2.—Every signature of a member of Seanad Eireann to a petition presented to the President under Article 27 of the Constitution shall be verified either— (a) by a certificate, in whichever of the following forms is appropriate, signed by the Clerk of Seanad Eireann, or the Clerk-Assistant of Seanad Eireann, and written on the petition beside or immediately below the signature or signatures to which it relates, that is to say:— (i) where the certificate relates to one signature only:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above) signature is the signature of A.B., a member of Seanad Eireann. ______________________ Clerk (or Clerk-Assistant) of Seanad Eireann.” (ii) where the certificate relates to two or more signatures:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above) ___________ signatures are the respective signatures of A. B., C. D., E. F., etc. each of whom is a member of Seanad Eireann. ______________________ Clerk (or Clerk-Assistant) of Seanad Eireann.” or (b) by a certificate in the following form signed by a Justice of the District Court, a Commissioner for Oaths, or an officer of the Gárda Síochána not below the rank of Superintendent, and written on the petition beside or immediately below the signature to which it relates, that is to say:— “I hereby certify that the adjoining (or above) signature is the signature of A. B., who is personally known to me and is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a member of Seanad Eireann ______________________ Justice of the District Court (or Commissioner for Oaths or_______ of the Gárda Síochána).” Acceptance of verification as sufficient evidence. 3.—Whenever a petition is presented to the President under Article 27 of the Constitution, it shall be lawful for the President to accept the verification of a signature thereto in accordance with whichever of the foregoing sections is applicable as sufficient evidence that such signature is the signature of the person whose signature it purports to be and that such person is a member of Dáil Eireann or of Seanad Eireann (as the case may be). Offences and penalties. 4.—(1) Every person who does any of the following things shall be guilty of a corrupt practice within the meaning of Part I of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 (No. 38 of 1923), that is to say:— (a) by signing a petition presented to the President under Article 27 of the Constitution falsely represents himself to be a member of Dáil Eireann or of Seanad Eireann, or (b) affixes to any such petition a signature purporting to be the signature of a person other than himself, or (c) makes, in a certificate affixed to any such petition, in pursuance of this Act, a statement which is to his knowledge false or misleading, or (d) does, in relation to the signing of any petition, anything which, if done in relation to voting at an election of a member of Dáil Eireann, would be either bribery as defined in the said Part I of the said Act or undue influence as so defined. (2) In the foregoing sub-section of this section the expression “petition presented to the President under Article 27 of the Constitution” shall be construed and have effect as including a document intended to be or prepared with a view to its being presented to the President as a petition under the said Article (whether such document is or is not subsequently so presented), and accordingly, if any person does, in relation to or in connection with any such document, any act which, if done in relation to or in connection with a petition presented as aforesaid, would render him guilty (by virtue of the said foregoing sub-section) of a corrupt practice within the meaning of Part I of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 (No. 38 of 1923), such person shall be guilty of a corrupt practice within the meaning aforesaid. (3) Section 6 (except sub-section (2) thereof) of the Prevention of Electoral Abuses Act, 1923 (No. 38 of 1923), shall apply and have effect in relation to a person guilty of an offence which is by virtue of this section a corrupt practice within the meaning of that Act in like manner as it applies and has effect in relation to a person guilty of an offence which is a corrupt practice by virtue of section 1 of the said Act. Short title. 5.—This Act may be cited as the Constitution (Verification of Petition) Act, 1944. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais