Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the passage of this Bill by the Seanad. As stated by the Minister, the Bill concerns many aspects on which several of us have been working for many years, including the sexual exploitation of children, the purchase of sexual services, incest and the disclosure of third parties, which are some of the key aspects in which I have been involved. While I have not been successful in having all of my amendments accepted, I hope that they will be included in some form or other in the legislation as it progresses through the Dáil or in future legislation.

I thank the Minister and her officials for their engagement on this Bill and for facilitating me in providing clarification on certain issues. I also thank the Minister for putting on the record today the clarification I sought on Committee Stage regarding section 15. I would also like to thank the civil society organisations, which are too numerous to mention individually, for their work in relation to this Bill. On each of the aspects of this Bill, I have had extensive engagement from civil society organisations.I pay tribute to them for representing the views, experiences and practice they are experiencing and helping us as legislators to shape the law to address the concerns and issues that arise, and to make this legislation what we all hope it will be. I say well done to the Minister on passing the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill.