Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

It is very difficult to focus on sentencing norms when there is a such a gaping hole in the legislation protecting our children. We have been told by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in recent days that legislation exists to prosecute people for both sexual assault and rape. The reality is that no offence now exists for statutory rape. What makes this offence different in practical terms is that the question of consent is dispensed with. We now have a situation where the onus of proof is on the child to demonstrate she did not give consent. Should the law in regard to sexual assault or rape be applied instead of statutory rape, the child will be exposed to the full rigours of the legal system, as is the case——

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