Here’s your chance to help scrap 2,300 laws

THE way to prosecute a thief? Tie the suspect to a millstone, deep him or her in water, and if they sink, they’re guilty. And no, this is not Taliban-style justice, but Irish law.

A series of archaic acts remain on the Statute Book. A 12th century law forbids Jewish people from owning armour. An 11th-century law provides for Frenchmen to be charged discriminatory taxes.

But these laws will not survive for much longer. The Government has embarked upon the second phase of its programme to update the Statute Book.