The Order was strengthened in January 1923 to allow execution for many other categories of offence, including non-combatant Republican supporters carrying messages, assisting in escapes or using army or police uniforms; and also desertion from the National Army.The Army Council approved a wider Order, signed by General Mulcahy. The Order also permitted searches by police and government security forces without a search warrant. It was debated in the Dáil on 17 January, as required by law, and after considerable debate a motion by opposition leader Thomas Johnson of the Labour Party to negate it was defeated by a vote of 41 to 13.
