Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If we wish to stop a dirty old man bringing a child to a room and putting on a blue movie or bringing a child to a room to show a couple engaged in sexual intercourse, we must have a law to do so. It is not easy. I genuinely believe that no court would consider that an offence of sexual exploitation was committed in the circumstances described by Senator Ryan. For this section 2A offence to be committed, one intentionally meets the child for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation. I believe a court would take the view that this legislation is in place to stop sexual exploitation of children, not to prevent a grope by two teenagers. That is not what it is about. I do not know how one differentiates between the two but the age difference is not the crucial item.