Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Two years ago, I introduced a Bill that would replace the phrase “child pornography” in Irish law with “child sexual exploitation material”. Today in the Seanad, a recent EU directive comes before us to strengthen the measures to combat sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Among many measures in the directive, it calls to replace the phrase “child pornography” with the phrase “child sexual abuse material”. I would like to have a debate in this House again on changing the phrase in Ireland. I was in discussions with Deputy Helen McEntee and the then Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, who said it is not doable right now in this country to change the phrase. However, where there is a will, there is a way. We can lead by example as a country, so I would like a further discussion. I will write to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, today to see whether there is any way we can look at moving this Bill from where it is now back into the Dáil and the Seanad. I believe that together we can genuinely change the phrase “child pornography”. It is not child pornography. No child consents. It is child sexual abuse material. While I welcome the changes today, there is much more we can do as a society.