Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The position is that the sentence in the case in question has been referred to the Court of Criminal Appeal for priority assessment. The issue of mandatory sentencing for particular crimes has been raised in the House over the years. It is a matter for the Government to reflect on the matter in so far as introducing legislation is concerned.

I accept the Ceann Comhairle's clarification of this issue. It is not open to me or anyone else in the House to refer to the nature or extent of the sentence.

I wish to repeat that Fiona Doyle's decision to bring the case to public scrutiny is an act of courage on her behalf and one for which I admire her. As I stated, the case has filled people with a sense of revulsion. It has been referred to the Court of Criminal Appeal as a priority and I trust the court will deal with it as a priority.

In response to the question raised by Deputy Kelleher, I hope that others who are abused or horrifically defiled, as occurred in the case in question, will not lose courage and will speak out as Ms Doyle has done.

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