The Statute Law Revision Act 2024 repeals more than 3,000 instruments enacted between 1821 and 1861, as well as all secondary legislation enacted before 1821 that remains technically in force but is no longer relevant.

The repealed instruments include over 2,500 proclamations offering rewards for the apprehension of suspected criminals, including for acts such as breaking eggs, burning cowsheds and outhouses, beating with nettles, and posting threatening notices about land, voting and potatoes.

It also includes hundreds of county-specific proclamations, with 426 relating to Tipperary alone — compared to just 71 in Dublin — reflecting historical social unrest.

One proclamation prescribes a specific prayer to be used during the Great Famine, highlighting the deep interweaving of civil and religious life in 19th-century Ireland.

The 2024 Act joins six previous Statute Law Revision Acts to form the most comprehensive set of repealing measures in the history of the State and, the government says, the most extensive statute law revision effort ever undertaken globally.

Emer Higgins, the minister of state for public procurement, digitalisation and eGovernment, said: “This Act is a landmark moment in our ongoing commitment for legislative clarity and transparency.

“By repealing over 3,000 outdated instruments, we are not only decluttering our statute book but also making it more accessible and understandable for all.

“The work of the Law Reform Commission and the Department in reviewing over 40,000 instruments has been meticulous and invaluable.

“While the repeals offer a snapshot of our country’s rich history, this is about ensuring that our laws reflect the Ireland of today — not the Ireland of centuries past.”

Jack Chambers, minister for public expenditure, infrastructure, public service reform and digitalisation, added: “I welcome the signing into law of this important legislation which marks an important step in our ongoing work to modernise Ireland’s legislative framework.

“Many of the repeals offer insight into the priorities and challenges faced by our country in times gone by and their repeal provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made as a society.”