Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

What we are dealing with now comes as a result of the issue being identified last Thursday, and that came about because of rushed legislation. Most people want to know whether this legislation will protect their children until we have a consolidated Act that deals with all of the issues identified.

On grooming, I understand the requirement for two contacts. The English drafters wanted to verify whether a person backed off even after meeting someone who was obviously a child. It involves being clear on the person's intentions. Grooming does not always take place on the Internet, via texting or abroad. The expert in this matter is Dr. Kevin Brown, who works for the UK Government and makes the point that paedophiles often move into new areas because they have identified children they consider targets. He makes the point that the first contact can be——

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