Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The Bill introduces a confusing anomaly which may undermine the law of incest in that incestuous intercourse under this Bill with a child over 15 years is punishable with ten years, which is less than the protection offered by the law of incest.

The Bill is presented as a protected measure but it decriminalises a number of acts with children that are currently offences. For example, if a 60 year old sexually interferes with a consenting 15 year old boy but does not preform penetrative sex, he is guilty of an offence of gross indecency under section 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993. However, the section is being repealed without replacement.

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