Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

Select Committee on Justice and Equality

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage

9:00 am

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. It is instructive to note that the legislation refers to the Punishment of Incest Act 1908 which provided for a maximum sentence of three to seven years, yet, 109 years later, we are inserting a penalty of imprisonment for life. There could be a situation where two people were involved in a sexual act and they were both committing different sexual and criminal offences. The section need to be re-examined and I will support Deputy Jonathan O'Brien if it is put to a vote.

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