Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As a public representative and a father, I am appalled by today's decision by the High Court which releases a pervert back into society. The fact that a person who deliberately plied a young girl of confirmation age with alcohol and then had sex with her has now been released back into society at a time when this Government failed to see such a scenario coming is an appalling example of incompetence in respect of protecting young people. Who is in charge on the Government benches? Why did the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform state last week that there was no gaping hole in the law and no need to rush serious legislation?

Thanks to the Taoiseach's breathtaking incompetence, Mr. A has walked free and so might Messrs. B, C, D, E and F. We should think of Mr. B and a pervert who serves four life sentences for having sex with girls aged six, eight and ten years. The court described his case as one of the worst to come before it and described the defendant as manipulative, depraved and cunning. It now appears that he could also walk free.

The people want to know how the Government allowed this to happen when the Attorney General was defending this case in the Supreme Court and when the Government and Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform did not appear to know what the other arm of Government was doing. This depraved individual can now return to society where the same thing could happen again this weekend. How is it that while the Attorney General was defending this case in court, the other arm of Government did not know what was happening?

I acknowledge that the Taoiseach and Tánaiste both stated that this issue is complex, but the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated last week that there was no need to rush serious legislation and that an instant response was not required because there was no gaping black hole in the law. He should tell that to the thousands of parents who have children of confirmation age, one of whom was plied with alcohol and raped by an individual who can now walk free. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Attorney General knew that such a scenario could take place. Of all the mistakes we have witnessed, this is the most scandalous because this Government has failed to put in place protection for young children. This weekend, children will make their confirmation. Unfortunately, one such child was filled with drink by Mr. A and subsequently had sexual relations. That is not the kind of country in which I want my children to live. Will the Taoiseach say what he will do about this matter?

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