Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I would like to say to Deputy Kenny that I can do something about the seven cases. In the Government's view and my view, however, there is a distinction between these cases and someone resisting an offence, as happened in the case the Supreme Court made its judgment on. It was a long drawn out case, the first part of it was heard last summer and it may have been submitted a year before that.

In the seven other cases I mentioned, people were prosecuted for some very serious offences. I am aware of some of the facts. We will appeal this case to the Supreme Court and fight those but we must deal with the loophole. If we can finish this by the weekend we will do it. It is not simple. I say that with the greatest respect to the people who have drafted Bills. There is a difference, however, when the Government drafts Bills that must be based on legal advice. We must deal with the two main issues that I have mentioned. We must ensure the laws are not discriminatory on grounds of gender — the 1930 Act was based on boys — and we must ensure that the law has defences required by the Supreme Court decision to sustain their constitutionality. We will do our best to deal with those issues and I will consult the Opposition. If we have the legislation by the weekend, the Cabinet committee will meet then and we can bring it to the House next week to pass it. I have asked everyone to try to do that.

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