Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will introduce a sexual offences Bill which will consolidate and modernise all criminal law in the area of sexual offences. [15478/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am preparing a Sexual Offences Bill at present which will update and modernise many of the laws protecting children and other vulnerable persons against sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. I am also aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children is expecting to shortly publish an interim report on absolute and strict liability. On the publication of that report, I will devise a strategy for updating the criminal laws generally that govern sexual offences and seek Government approval to implement that strategy. It would not be feasible to consolidate those laws until they are brought fully up to date.