Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I share speakers' views on section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, the most anomalous part of the legislation. Last week, the House was not afforded an opportunity to debate this section. I agree that many Senators on the Government side also offered to contribute to the debate but the House was prevented from holding such a debate by the use of a Government guillotine, a most unfortunate decision. What steps, if any, does the Government intend to take to test the constitutionality of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act? How does it intend to ensure that the errors which occurred in the Office of the Attorney General and, possibly, elsewhere will be addressed? Does it intend to establish an all-party committee to deal with the many aspects of law pertaining to the protection of children?

I join Senator Minihan in condemning Sinn Féin and the IRA. What else would one expect of those who have been attacking the institutions of the State for many years?