Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also compliment Deputy Cian O'Callaghan on bringing this legislation to us. It is always depressing that any crisis is an opportunity for someone to exploit others who are the most vulnerable. It is beyond shocking that this sort of thing exists.

I am obviously interested in the legislation being effective rather than simply enacted. My question to the Department of Justice is whether there is similar legislation in other jurisdictions that captures this issue and has proven effective that we can look at as a model? We have been grappling with general sexual offences legislation for a very long time. It is always difficult to get convictions for sexual offences.

Second, in the review of the 2017 Act which we have been told is imminent, will this issue be part of any amending legislation that would come forward or does the Department support this stand-alone piece of legislation because of the urgency of the situation if the very clear evidence presented to us is happening right now?