Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The point of departure in this debate must be what we have all heard in recent days, namely, the voices of the large number of victims of sexual crimes who live in our country and their relatives and close friends and the pressure and trauma they are put under as the result of the repeated public discussion and debate about these matters. All Members owe a duty to these individuals. During this debate, I have heard political charges and counter-charges and the din of noise and barrack-room "lawyering", none of which helps the victims of the offences in question.

I must single out the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Kenny, because he puts himself forward as an alternative Taoiseach. He came to the House this morning and said the Government was responsible for one man, and possibly six men, walking free. That is simply untrue. There is nothing which the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform or the Government could have done before, during or since the Supreme Court judgment that would have affected that position. It is exclusively a matter for the courts, which is being determined in the context——

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