Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Deputy Ó Snodaigh will concede that if there is a consensus in the House that this should be an arrestable offence and that people should be detainable for questioning for soliciting children to engage in sexual activities, the ordinary consequence of that is it would be an indictable offence carrying a five-year penalty. It would be very strange indeed if asking somebody to do something carried a heavier penalty than attempting to do it to them. That is all we are providing for.

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