Dáil debates

Friday, 3 May 2013

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members]

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Peter MathewsPeter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for the large body of research work he has undertaken on this Bill. I also thank all Deputies for their contributions on the Bill, all of which I have listened to in the House. I salute that there are many Independent and Opposition Deputies in the House and I am a little embarrassed by the number of Government Members present. However, I believe the contribution of Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor captured the situation in which Ireland finds itself in this regard.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan touched on the situation in which people can find themselves when their defences and self-control is low. The Deputy also rightly described the crossover between this sad and tragic world where human rights and abuses take place and the industries of pornography and visualisation of behaviour, which makes this issue even more difficult to address.

Deputies Finian McGrath and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn also spoke passionately about the need for progress on address of this issue. I note that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children proposes to invite in organisations with first-hand experience of what goes on in this tragic world and how that affects not alone this generation but future generations. While we need to hear what they have to say, we should not allow reports, discussions and debates to delay us in doing something to address this problem. I commend the Turn Off the Red Light campaign and those involved. It has been a strong platform for interest groups wishing to channel their concerns on this issue.

Reference was made to the Swedish model as a comprehensive way with which to address the problem. It is instructive and telling and Sweden's neighbouring countries in the Northern region, including Norway, see the value in what it has done. It has been suggested that is the direction in which we should be going. I respect that. As stated by previous Deputies, while the Dutch have pushed out the borders and introduced liberalisation in various areas such as drug use and prostitution and related activities, it has not worked, even within legislative frameworks.

They are trying to pull back, for the sake of society, the well-being of their people and also for the well-being of the visitors to their country. Their country became attractive to unattractive visitors from abroad to spend so-called holidays or whatever adventures, and it only led to misery. It is wise to look at other jurisdictions and what they have experienced, and what they have done to counterbalance, correct and remove these stains in their societies.

I thank Deputy Pringle for the work he has done on this. I also thank everybody else on the Opposition benches for their contributions which have been well researched - they have done their homework. My colleague, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, made a valuable contribution too. She stated that it is important to move this along, that we do not merely stay stuck in committee work and reports, and that we should start moving it along at a faster pace, but ensuring that we cover the ground.

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