Commissioners For Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931

What is this act about?

This law allows certain diplomatic and consular officials of Saorstát Eireann to administer oaths and perform notarial acts in other countries. It ensures these acts are legally recognized and establishes rules for fees and penalties for false swearing.

Who it applies to: Persons employed in the Civil Service of the Government of Saorstát Eireann who hold diplomatic or consular roles abroad; Honorary consuls or honorary vice-consuls appointed by the Minister for External Affairs.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Criminal law
Articles: 5
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The power of specific officials to administer oaths and take affidavits outside Saorstát Eireann.
The ability of these officials to perform notarial acts that a notary public can do in Saorstát Eireann.
The legal validity of oaths, affidavits, and notarial acts performed by these officials.
The establishment of fees for these services and how they are collected and managed.

Who does this act apply to?

Persons employed in the Civil Service of the Government of Saorstát Eireann who hold diplomatic or consular roles abroad.
Honorary consuls or honorary vice-consuls appointed by the Minister for External Affairs.

What are the key points?

Officials can administer any oath and take any affidavit, and do any notarial act, in countries where they exercise their functions.
Documents with the seal and signature of these officials are accepted as evidence without further proof.
The Minister for External Affairs, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, can set fees for these services.
Wilfully and corruptly swearing falsely in an oath or affidavit taken under this Act is considered perjury.

Criminal law

Criminal Justice (Location of Victims' Remains) Act, 1999

Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 2011

Indemnity Act, 1923

Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2021

Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1998

Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) (Amendment) Act, 2002

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023

Criminal law

Legal text

Contents (5)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5

Commissioners For Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 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 1931 Commissioners For Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 Commissioners For Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931 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 9 of 1931.

COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS (DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR) ACT, 1931.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Definitions.

Section 2

Powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad.

Section 3

Fees.

Section 4

Perjury.

Section 5

Short title.

Number 9 of 1931.

COMMISSIONERS FOR OATHS (DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR) ACT, 1931.

AN ACT TO ENABLE PERSONS PERFORMING DIPLOMATIC OR CONSULAR SERVICES OUTSIDE SAORSTÁT EIREANN TO ADMINISTER OATHS AND DO NOTARIAL ACTS IN THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH THEY ARE PERFORMING SUCH FUNCTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES CONNECTED THEREWITH. [21st April, 1931.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions.

1.—In this Act— the word “oath” includes affirmation and declaration; the word “affidavit” includes affirmation, statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, examination, and attestation or protestation of honour; the word “swear” includes affirm, declare, and protest.

Powers as to oaths and notarial acts abroad.

2.—(1) Every person to whom this section applies may, in any country or place outside Saorstát Eireann in which he is for the time being exercising the functions of his office, administer any oath and take any affidavit, and may also do any notarial act which a notary public can do in Saorstát Eireann, and every oath, affidavit, and notarial act administered, sworn, or done by or before such person in such country or place shall be as effectual as if duly administered, sworn, or done by or before any lawful authority in Saorstát Eireann.

(2)Any document purporting to have affixed thereon, or thereto, or to have impressed thereon, the seal, and to have subscribed thereto the signature, of any person to whom this section applies in testimony of any oath, affidavit, or act being administered, taken or done by or before him, shall be admitted in evidence (saving all just exceptions) without proof of the seal or signature being the seal or signature of such person, or of the status and official character of such person.

(3)This section applies to every person who is employed in the Civil Service of the Government of Saorstát Eireann and who is an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, a high commissioner, a chargé d'affaires, a counsellor of legation, a first secretary of legation, a second secretary of legation, a first secretary of the office of high commissioner, a second secretary of the office of high commissioner, or an attaché.

(4)This section also applies to every person who is employed in the Civil Service of the Government of Saorstát Eireann and who is a consul-general, a consul, or a vice-consul.

(5)This section also applies to every person who is an honorary consul or an honorary vice-consul and who is appointed to that office by the Minister for External Affairs.

Fees.

3.—(1) The Minister for External Affairs may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, by order make regulations in relation to all or any of the following matters, that is to say:— (a) the fees to be charged by persons to whom the foregoing section applies in respect of the administering, taking, or doing of any oath, affidavit, or notarial act authorised by the said section to be administered, taken, or done by them: (b) the manner in which such fees are to be collected; (c) any other matter or thing relating to such fees; and different regulations may be made in relation to different countries and places.

(2)All fees collected under this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance may direct.

(3)Every regulation made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution is passed by either House of the Oireachtas within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which such House has sat after such regulation is laid before it annulling such regulation such regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such regulation.

Perjury.

4.—(1) Every person who wilfully and corruptly swears falsely in any oath or affidavit taken or made in accordance with this Act shall be guilty of the offence of perjury in every case where if he had so sworn in a judicial proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction he would be guilty of the offence of perjury.

(2)A person charged with the offence of perjury under this section may be proceeded against, indicted, tried, and punished in any county or county borough in which he was apprehended or is in custody as if such offence had been committed in such county or county borough, and for all purposes incidental to or consequential on the prosecution, trial, or punishment of such offence, it shall be deemed to have been committed in such county or county borough.

Short title.

5.—This Act may be cited as the Commissioners for Oaths (Diplomatic and Consular) Act, 1931.

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

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.