Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to speak on the amendment relating to the digital age of consent. There is no doubt that this has resulted in quite a fiery debate online, in the media and among politicians in recent weeks. That is welcome because when policy is informed by experts on both sides of a debate, it makes for better policy. Listening to the arguments put forward on both sides gets better outcomes. In fairness, that is what Fianna Fáil has tried to do in recent weeks and months, namely, to listen to the voices urging us in particular directions. Each side of the debate is worth listening to. Some people who have been in favour of having 16 as the digital age of consent have been grossly denigrated in the debate which is very unfortunate given that we are talking about some of the most important scientists in the country, for example, who advocate the age of 16, and we are talking about children's rights organisations-----

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