Rape and sexual assault law
After condolences to Shane McEntee’s family, Senator Moran calls for a debate with the Justice Minister on reviewing rape and sexual-assault laws.
I convey my condolences and those of everyone here to the family of the late Deputy Shane McEntee. I got to know Deputy McEntee when I first came to the House. His support to me, as I am sure, to other colleagues also, was outstanding. I remember specifically on one occasion when he was in the House for the Adjournment. He approached me after the debate and offered me his assistance on the matter. He served his constituents of Meath East and the whole country with 100% commitment. The number of people who attended his funeral was a testament to the high regard in which he was held. His death raises other questions and may result in a call for further debates in this House on bullying, cyberbullying and the issue of suicide. This is an issue which needs to be highlighted. We need to continue to work on this matter.
I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien. I wish to raise the concerns of many people and support groups. I listened to one chief executive officer of a support group who was very upset over the lenient sentencing yesterday. The man in the case admitted that he had raped and sexually assaulted his daughter over a period of ten years, including, unbelievably, on the night before her First Holy Communion day. That is significant in itself. The accounts of this crime are horrific. Nine years of the sentence on this man were-----
Comment on this
I call on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to come to the House for a debate on the issue and the need to review the laws surrounding crimes of rape and sexual assault. I speak as a woman. It is very difficult for a person who has been a victim to stand up, waive her right to anonymity and then get the result achieved yesterday.