New statutory rape laws to be published this afternoon

01/06/2006 - 13:04:03
The Government's proposed measures to deal with the legal loophole relating to statutory rape are expected to be disclosed this afternoon.

The cabinet has been meeting with senior legal advisors this morning to discuss a new law to replace the one declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last week.

Details of the proposed new legislation is expected to distributed to the opposition parties this afternoon, with the Dáil debating the measures tomorrow.

Legislation passed through the Oireachtas normally takes 10 days to go to the President, however Mary McAleese is expected to be on standby to sign the new law before midnight tomorrow.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell was initially planning to overhaul the entire law on underage sex, but he is now understood to have opted for a constitutionally sound version of the original 1935 legislation instead.