Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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746. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department is considering proposals regarding the creation of a statutory offence or a defined sub-offence under sexual assault specifically addressing sibling sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61296/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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747. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions his Department is taking to make improvements in policy, legislation, and support systems available for people harmed by sibling sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61297/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 746 and 747 together.

I recognise that sibling sexual abuse is a highly damaging crime.

Through the implementation of the “Supporting a Victim’s Journey”, the Government has committed to ongoing reform aimed at reducing the re-traumatisation of victims and ensuring every step of the legal process, from reporting to trial, reflects a victim-centred and trauma-aware approach.

There is a comprehensive legal framework in place to address the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation of vulnerable persons.

The Punishment of Incest Act, which was updated in 2019, criminalises sexual intercourse between family members, including half-brothers and half-sisters. More broadly, sexual acts with children are a criminal offence under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act enacted in 2017, is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which significantly enhanced the laws combatting the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2019 made further amendments to the 2017 Act to provide for specified minimum penalties for repeat sexual offenders. This applies where a person is convicted on indictment of a sexual offence and sentenced to five years or more in prison.

If that person commits a subsequent sexual offence within ten years of their first conviction, the court must impose a minimum jail term of not less than three quarters of the maximum term for the sexual offence in question.

If the maximum term is life imprisonment, then the term imposed must be a minimum of 10 years. This can be disregarded where the court feels it would be disproportionate in all the circumstances of the case; it also does not apply to child offenders.

The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 strengthened our already robust system for monitoring sex offenders on release from prison and provides for changes to the notification requirements for sex offenders.

While there are currently no plans to create a specific statutory offence, all legislation is kept under continual review, to ensure it addresses emerging issues and aligns with constitutional requirements.

I am absolutely committed to ongoing engagement with victims and survivors, advocacy groups, and legal professionals to ensure improvements in policy, legislation, and support systems available for people harmed by sexual abuse.