Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If I reinstated the pre-existing law, it would bring about the present situation that the boy commits an offence theoretically but the girl does not. I am providing that girls do not commit an offence so they are not stigmatised and boys, who could commit serious offences under this provision, should not be prosecuted save by the direct decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I will come back to Deputy Jim O'Keeffe in a second.

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