Justice minister seeks to define sexual consent

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is to make a fresh attempt to define sexual consent after an Oireachtas committee heard the issue was “incredibly complex”.

Speaking on amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, the Tánaiste said she favours a list of sexual activity where there is no consent as well as a more general section where other factors can be considered.

It lists 12 types of sexual activity that do “not amount to consent”, including where force or threat of force is applied or if the person is asleep or incapacitated.