Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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507. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the maximum penalty for engaging in a sex act with a child beyond the current sentence of five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46103/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government takes the issue of sexual exploitation of children very seriously and has put in place comprehensive legislation to deal with these offences.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 amended the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 to raise the maximum penalty for engaging in a sexual act with a child who is under the age of 17 years from 5 to 7 years imprisonment.  Furthermore, the 2017 Act amends the 2006 Act to raise the maximum penalty for attempting to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 17 years from 2 to 7 years imprisonment.  

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 also provides that the maximum penalty for engaging in a sexual act with a child under the age of 15 years is life imprisonment and the same penalty applies to attempting to engage in a sexual act with a child under the age of 15 years.

Finally, the 2017 Act introduces a range of new offences involving the exploitation of children, including inviting a child to engage in sexual touching, sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to watch sexual activity. The maximum penalties for these offences is in the range of 10 to 14 years, depending on the offence.