Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Following the collapse of the CC case on statutory rape, I made the point that there was a gap in the law in the protection of children from sexual predators and the need for a constitutional amendment. Has an amendment been considered by the Government or has it been given priority? The case arose because of a breakdown in communications between State agencies.

It has been suggested to me on several occasions that there has been a serious reduction in prosecutions of allegations of statutory rape being pursued by the Director of Public Prosecutions because of concerns over a defendant claiming he made a mistake about the victim's age. Is there any substance to these allegations?

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