Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

10 o’clock

I thank Deputy Sherlock. We will take those points into consideration.

This Bill is aimed at the serial sexual offenders who ignore all rehabilitation efforts, who remain a constant public danger and who are a menace to men, women and children in society. This issue was raised with me some time ago by a constituent of mine, Debbie Cole, who suffered the severe trauma of being raped at the age of 19. Her attacker went on to commit further serious crimes. Debbie asked me if I could change the law in this area and I said I would try. Today, I am fulfilling that promise to her and many other victims of sex attacks. There are also other well-known cases of serial sex offenders who commit repeat offences in the State and where the offenders have made no effort to change their ways. The media have highlighted some such cases recently.

The effects of rape and other serious sexual offences on the community and the victims are well documented. Serious sexual crimes not only impose emotional and physical trauma on the victim but such offences also attack the unity and stability of society as a whole. It tears away the protection that society offers to all its citizens and we, as politicians, must be careful not to let this happen. If we allow serial sex offenders to continue unchecked, by going on to commit similar or other more serious crimes without imposing longer sentences for subsequent offences, then society as a whole is devalued.

Figures show that a small number of sex offenders released from Irish prisons undertook treatment programmes. Gardaí are also monitoring at any one time, some 100 sex offenders who remain a threat to society. Repeat offending by sex offenders is an affront to any democratic society that seeks to protect its citizens. Our laws must reflect our disgust at this behaviour. We must show our support, in a meaningful way, for those victims who have suffered at the hands of serial sex offenders.

I thank all Members in the House. I applaud Debbie Cole because for the last 20 years, since the age of 19, she has been campaigning for this. Ms Cole has spoken to a great number of people in the House over those 20 years. This Bill has so far failed to come to fruition, until today. I especially thank Debbie and her family - and all the "Debbie Coles". We had christened this Bill the Debbie Cole Bill or "Debbie's Law", and that is how it will stand with me. For Debbie and all the victims who have since come out and looked for support from the legislation, I appreciate all the Members in the House. The Bill did not just come about by us sitting in an office; we spoke to victims and Debbie Cole was one of those victims. I thank and applaud her. I thank all Members of the House for their contributions on the Bill. I thank also my political adviser, Mr. Eugene Deering, who wrote the Bill. It is the second piece of legislation I have introduced in the House over the last two and a half years and I get great pride in that.

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