FG urges second child protection referendum

A SEPARATE and more urgent constitutional referendum to the one proposed last week by the Taoiseach is going to be necessary to fully implement new legislation on child protection.

That is according to Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe speaking after the Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection met for the first time after the completion of an 88-page draft report last night.

“The committee has taken a view that the defence of mistake of age should not be available where the sexual activity takes place with a child below a certain age,” said Deputy O’Keeffe.