Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to comment on the high-profile court case in Belfast, or to comment on the outcome of it, but subsequent to it, I wrote to the Minister on the need to reconsider our legislation on sexual assault and sexual crimes. Given the speed of his response, I am sure he had arrived at that conclusion himself. As he said, he announced a review of same and I have a number of questions on that. What is the timescale for that? I was unable to find online, and I may be mistaken, any call for submissions or anything like that. If there is such a process, could the Minister outline what it is?

There is a similar process - I raised this with the Minister in the Dáil recently - although not identical, happening in the North at the moment under direct rule. What is the level communication or co-ordination? This is a unique opportunity to ensure that legislation North and South on sexual crimes is well aligned and that there is as much consistency as possible across the board. Has there been communication with the relevant authorities in the North on their review of sexual crimes and sexual offences?