Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

When the A case legislation came through this House six months ago I raised concerns and suggested we would be forced to revisit this legislation within six months. I specifically proposed an amendment suggesting the House would revisit the legislation within six months. Little did I know that my wish would be granted and that the Minister would have to come back to the House to propose new legislation. I feel a sense of déjÀ vu. Deputy Howlin is showing up some of the problematic areas within the legislation. Members only received the text of the Bill this morning. It is unacceptable to expect all parties within a matter of hours to digest complex legislation and ensure it is watertight. It is ironic to be considering changes in legislation, given that only last summer the House was trying to close the loopholes. I have concerns about this section. I worry about the loose definitions listed in section 6(3)(e) of inviting, inducing or coercing a child to observe activity of a sexual or indecent nature. I am worried the Minister is suggesting that a reasonable court would not interpret the proposed legislation badly. We are doing a rushed job, as we did last summer. I humbly suggest we will probably have to revisit this legislation in the coming months. It is important that we put on record the need to consider this legislation more calmly. I am sure the consolidating legislation to which the Minister referred will enable us to do this, but I feel uneasy at rushing through legislation at what is literally the eleventh hour. It is late in the day but we have had less than 24 hours to consider the Bill.

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