A deeply disturbing case emerged before the courts of a vulnerable woman with an intellectual disability who was sexually assaulted in a swimming pool steam room. The man responsible has been convicted and yet the sentence imposed was reduced after the court considered difficulties for a foreign national serving a sentence in this jurisdiction. Let us be clear what this means; a woman who lives with the consequences of oral rape-----

Is this a legal case?

It is finished. It has gone through the courts.

Let us be clear what this means; a woman who lives with consequences of rape for the rest of her life saw the punishment of her attacker reduced because he is not from this country. Justice must be blind to nationality. The only people who deserve special consideration are the victims of these attacks. Does the Government believe it is acceptable that the nationality of an offender is taken into account and should result in a reduced sentence considering that particular type of offence and the seriousness of sexual crime? Will the Government now examine the sentencing framework to ensure that such consideration can still give justice to the victims of Ireland? Victims must come first.

You never care when it is an Irish man of course. Never once have you raised a case like that. Ever.

I did not know you were made Tánaiste.

You only care if the perpetrator is a foreigner, you do not care otherwise. You do not care about women, stop pretending.

I call Deputy O’Meara.

Using gender-based violence to be racist should be called out.

Is the lady speaking for the Tánaiste?

No. Sit down. The Deputy is out of order and Deputy Coppinger is out of order.

I am making a point.

You are making a point on somebody else’s time. That is what you are doing.

I call Deputy O’Meara.

I will not stop calling you out.

Would the Tánaiste like to reply?

The Tánaiste cannot reply to matters that were being dealt with legally, or those matters. We should all know that.

It is about the policy.

No, it is not about policy.

The rules do not allow me to reply. The Deputy knows that.

I am only asking for justice for a victim. It is very disappointing.