Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)

I thank the Minister and my colleagues. This debate has been useful and I agree we cannot give a definition for all reasonable excuses. In moving the amendment, I knew it was not necessarily in the right place but I believed it was important to lay down a marker on the issue. I have a problem that there is a difference between the Children First guidelines and the Bill. The guidelines make a distinction between consensual peer sexual activity and child sexual abuse and this is about a suite of legislation. I am not fully satisfied because I feel there is a distinction.

The difficulty for me is that we can talk about consensual activity, and I have talked to Treoir, which is dealing directly with the issue of young fathers being counselled not to put their names on birth certificates because they will be further criminalised. I do not want the legislation to add to that opinion. While at the time of birth it may be consensual, relationships break down, whether those involved are young or old, and people's perceptions afterwards of whether it was consensual can change. I am concerned but accept the Minister's wisdom on the issue. While I reserve the right to come back on Report Stage, I take on board what has been said on the issue.