Maurice Hayes (Independent)

There is no point in my talking if the Minister of State is not listening.

I am also concerned about section 5 — which was inserted for good reasons and with the best of intentions — and whether it will be open to challenge on grounds of gender inequality, which may eviscerate the rest of the Bill. Rather than risk the entire legislation, it might be wise to consider that point.

The Minister referred to putting in the necessary resources, but they needed in other places as well as in the court system. Resources must be put into counselling, particularly for victims and especially for those who have been alarmed by the proceedings this week. Some of their emotions may have been whipped up by insensitive media courage but, nevertheless, people are worried and concerned. One would like to think the system is capable of responding to those people.

Resources are also needed in the area of sex education. It is pointless to deplore what happens to children when they go out into the wide and cruel world if we do not in some way help them to prepare for what they will meet and to make mature, sensible and reasonable decisions about what they do.

We must return to this matter. I hope people will have the stomach for it and that they will not consider this as done business. It is difficult to get people to discuss these matters. For that reason, it might be a good idea to signal in the Bill that this issue will be revisited.