Editing Felony (section)

===Ireland===
In [[law of the Republic of Ireland|Irish law]] the distinction between felony and misdemeanor was abolished by section 3 of the Criminal Law Act, 1997, such that the law previously applied to misdemeanors was extended to all offenses.<ref name="irlact1997">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0014/|title=Criminal Law Act, 1997|publisher=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=12 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616100205/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0014/|archive-date=16 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |format=PDF |url=http://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/consultation%20papers/cpCourtsActs.pdf#page=107 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703022604/http://www.lawreform.ie/_fileupload/consultation%20papers/cpCourtsActs.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-03 |url-status=live |title=CONSOLIDATION AND REFORM OF THE COURTS ACTS |publisher=Law Reform Commission |page=89, fn.298 |journal=Law Reform Commission Consultation Papers |issue=46–2007 |year=2007 |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref> Minister [[Joan Burton]], introducing the bill in the [[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]], said "The distinction has been eroded over many years and in today's conditions has no real relevance. Today, for example, serious offenses such as [[Criminal conversion|fraudulent conversion]] and obtaining property by [[false pretenses]] are classified as misdemeanors whereas a relatively trivial offense such as stealing a bar of chocolate is a felony."<ref name="seanad1997">{{cite web |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1997-02-26/5/ |title=Criminal Law Bill, 1996: Second Stage. |date=26 February 1997 |work=Seanad Éireann debates |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref> The 1997 Act, modeled on the English [[Criminal Law Act 1967]], introduced the category of "arrestable offense" for those with penalties of five years' imprisonment or greater.<ref name="irlact1997" /><ref name="seanad1997"/>

The [[Constitution of Ireland|1937 Constitution]] declares that the [[parliamentary privilege]], which protects [[Oireachtas]] members from arrest traveling to or from the legislature, does not apply to "[[Treason in the Republic of Ireland|treason]], felony, and [[breach of the peace]]".<ref>Constitution of Ireland, Article 15.13</ref> The 1996 Constitutional Review Group recommended replacing "felony" with "serious criminal offence".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/Oireachtas%201st-%20Progress%20Report%201997.pdf#page=38 |title=Report |author=Constitution Review Group |year=1996 |publisher=Stationery Office |no-pp=y |page=§4: felony or breach of the peace |access-date=8 August 2013 |location=Dublin |archive-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017190554/https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/Oireachtas%201st-%20Progress%20Report%201997.pdf#page=38 |url-status=dead }}</ref>