Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the contributors to the debate. On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, I express my gratitude specifically to Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy for raising this important issue. As I said earlier, this Bill reflects the policy that the Department of Justice and Equality has been developing, which will form the basis of a number of provisions in the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill.

The shared goal of Deputy Corcoran Kennedy's Bill and the forthcoming criminal law (sexual offences) Bill is to ensure there is no gap in the law that can be exploited by those who would prey on children for the purpose of sexually exploiting or corrupting them.

When it comes to the online world, the most effective way of protecting children is to ensure they can protect themselves through safe Internet use. Projects such as the EU Safer Internet programme in Ireland promote the safer use of electronic and online media.

Where it is necessary to employ the criminal law specifically to target child sexual grooming, the provisions to be included in the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill, which incorporate the concepts of the Bill before us, will effectively strengthen and extend the current law criminalising grooming behaviour. The law will cover more eventualities and can intervene at an earlier stage where behaviour indicative of child grooming comes to light.

I again thank the Deputy for introducing this Bill and the Members of the House for their contributions.

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