Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——do something to the child that would be a different matter.

I did not read Hansard on this matter. As I understand, the British draftsman wanted to make it very clear that in order for this offence to take place, an established pattern of behaviour, and not just a once-off text message or something similar, would have to be in place. Grooming, conceptually, is not just simply making an arrangement to meet somebody but teeing up the child over a period of time with a view to inducing the child to be available. It is the difference between soliciting or importuning, which we are dealing with elsewhere in the Bill, and grooming, which is a pattern of insidious behaviour and making arrangements for the child.

I agree that one could look at the section and ask why the stipulation for at least two communications in the past. This was to establish that this offence was committed where a prior pattern of communication existed.

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