Call to press ahead with child abuse law

Children’s charities have urged the Government to give children a Christmas present of protection by pressing ahead with a new law on sexual predators.

Four groups — Barnardos, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the Immigrant Council of Ireland — joined forces to take their message to the Dáil.

They want no let-up on the progress of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill, fearing that if it’s left much longer it could get elbowed out of the way by other business in the run-up to the election.