Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party voiced their concerns on the issue this afternoon. Can the Taoiseach explain why successive Governments, including a previous coalition of Fine Gael and Labour, failed to act on the recommendation of the Law Reform Commission in 1990 that a defence be allowed of making a genuine mistake about a person's age? Does the Taoiseach accept that if the Law Reform Commission's recommendations had been acted on in 1990, or at any point since, the 1935 law could not have been challenged as it has and we would have its protection today, averting the crisis we now face and the serious concern that exists?

I welcome the Taoiseach's confirmation that the new legislation will seek to protect young boys and girls from sexual predators. Can he confirm that the new law will provide——

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