Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

No, the Bill before us mentions a person from the peer group who is two years older than the victim. That group would not be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act. What I am saying is that the peer group should be in the category where the Director of Public Prosecutions would have discretion as to whether a person is prosecuted. Rather than provide a person with cover through the Bill, that might be a better way of dealing with it. There is another amendment put forward in that regard and it is a matter to which we should give serious consideration. The proposal before us suggests that it should be 24 months older, but I think it should be 36 months. The simple reason for this is that when, as a teenager, I was going out with the woman who is now my wife, I was three years older than her. I see 24 months as a bit tight. Perhaps it is worth another look.