Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I commend Deputy O'Callaghan on the work he is doing in this area. Any expansion of the rights of people in these circumstances has to be welcome. It is the way forward. The many of us who have had experience of dealing with people who have gone through the traumatic experiences of either sexual or domestic violence will understand what a huge trauma it represents to those people and those near to them. This legislation is a start. It moves us in a direction that will allow people to have more courage, which is what they need. Any support we can give that would enhance that courage is important. From that point of view, I commend Deputy O'Callaghan on introducing this legislation and moving us in the right direction.

I was out of the room for a few minutes but I was listening to the meeting on the monitor. I know that many questions were answered and dealt with in that time. One issue I have come across on a couple of occasions relates particularly to young people and teenagers. I refer to sexual encounters or experimentation crossing the boundaries that most of us would set and becoming assault. That can often happen a number of times before a young woman understands what has happened to her. These women find it very difficult to report such cases or to find the courage to do something because it was not a case of being attacked; it was consensual up to the point at which it crossed over into something which was no longer consensual. In the context of what we are doing here, how will support be given to people in such circumstances? I have young teenagers myself and I listen and hear. We have a very good relationship in the house and can talk about these things and I know that this is an issue for many people. They feel they cannot report stuff which they really should. They will not do so. Do the witnesses feel this legislation goes far enough in supporting people in those circumstances?