Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The recent allegations of child abuse are not allegations at all, as they are very credible. I am concerned to hear Maíria Cahill talking about taking calls from other survivors and victims of abuse and that she is being put in this position. I ask the State to clarify where information should be brought. We all know it should be brought to the Child and Family Agency and to the Garda, but this question must be addressed, particularly in the context of abuse that has happened in the past, and what supports will be provided by the State to survivors of such abuse.

Yes, we need to talk about an inquiry, but we also need to talk about immediacy. We know when every one of these events happens that there are people who are hurting all over this State and who need to given clear direction in terms of where they should go.

Where is the stalled Children First Bill? It has been on Committee Stage in the Dáil for the past year. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children so I know it is not in the plan. We have an obligation to ensure we put the child protection code into our statutory system.

I wish to mention the forthcoming publication of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2013, particularly in the context of initiatives that I have been working on since my appointment to the Seanad, such as tackling the proliferation of child abuse material, legislative guidance on the disclosure of children's confidential sexual assault counselling notes - it was promised in the House that this would be included in the Bill - and measures that might be taken to reduce the demand for human trafficking of adults and children. On the latter point, I commend the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on her comments and the commitments she made at the EU Anti-Trafficking Day organised by the Immigrant Council of Ireland in the Mansion House last Friday. On that occasion she said she would examine very carefully the potential of legislation criminalising the purchase of sex. I particularly welcome her commitment in light of the Seanad motion that we, the Taoiseach's nominees, tabled back in October 2012 calling on the Government to criminalise the purchase of sex in Ireland in order to curb prostitution and trafficking. The same express recommendation was made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality in its comprehensive report on prostitution law in Ireland published in June 2013.

The general scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill was due to be published in January 2014, and more recently we have been told that it will be published in this session. I ask the Leader for clarification of when exactly the Bill will be published. Has the general scheme of the Bill been approved by Cabinet? Since I have come to this House I have been told that all the answers to my queries will be in the Bill, and I await its publication.