Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is significant anger at this sentencing. I do not wish to make a political football out of the this issue and the suffering of Ms Fiona Doyle. Our duty is to respond, and we must do so. Does the Taoiseach agree this is a major concern and we must do something about it? Does he agree that we must establish a sentencing council and that the Court of Criminal Appeal needs to have permanent specialist judges to adjudicate on sentencing? We must have clear guidelines for the areas of sentencing for crimes of rape and abuse.

This State has betrayed children before and apologised but we need to encourage people so that they know if they come forward, they will be listened to, believed and vindicated. What is the Government's response regarding the terms and concerns surrounding the sentencing arrangements, particularly for rape, as was evident in this case? It is an appalling, horrific-----

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