In 1999, a Government Report entitled "Reducing Red Tape: An Action Programme of Regulatory Reform in Ireland" recommended that "All Departments should be required to provide user-friendly information to client groups and easily-read guides to legislation".

Plain Language Laws

In its report entitled "Statutory Drafting and Interpretation: Plain Language and the Law", (LRC61-2000) the Irish Law Reform Commission strongly advocate the use of plain language in legislation. Among other things, it recommended the use of familiar and contemporary language in legislative drafting; shorter and less complex sentences; the active, rather than the passive voice; positive statements rather than negative ones; and, increased use of examples, maps and diagrams.

In November 2001, a legislative Drafting Manual was prepared in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for use by drafters. This Manual commends the use of plain and simple language in so far as that is possible without giving rise to ambiguity. It advocates the use of plain language in the following terms:

"A simple sentence is easier to understand than a complex or compound sentence. If the meaning of a complex sentence can be precisely stated in two or more simple sentences, use the simple sentences. If a word has the same meaning as a phrase, use the word. Omit needless words."

It also encourages adherence to the following plain language principles:

• "use simple and familiar words unless they do not accurately express the intended meaning;
• use a single word, if possible, rather than a phrase;
• prefer verbs to noun forms;
• do not use different words to express the same meaning, or the same word to express different meanings;
• delete unnecessary words as they can lead to confusion and ambiguity;
• where possible, avoid Latin and French expressions, jargon, journalese and archaic words or phrases."