Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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627. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the progress of the criminal law (sexual offences) (amendment) Bill 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33810/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Cabinet approved the drafting of the Sexual Offences Bill in December last.

This is a wide ranging piece of legislation which includes legislative provisions to further enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. The Bill will facilitate full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of EU, UN and Council of Europe legal instruments. The Bill will also implement the recommendations of two Oireachtas committees, reform the law on incest and update the Sex Offenders Act 2001.

In addition the Bill will reform the law concerning sexual offences against vulnerable persons. In considering this, my Department published a discussion document in July and is conducting a public consultation process. Interested parties are welcome to make submissions until the end of this month. The purpose of the Document is to invite views from interested parties on legislative proposals to replace section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 (protection of mentally impaired persons). Further details are available on my Department's website.

The Bill is priority legislation and is currently being drafted. As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a complex piece of legislation and it is not possible to indicate, at present, when the legislation will be enacted. However, I am hopeful that the General Scheme of the Bill will be published in the coming months.