ISPCC wants new law assessed by Children’s Ombudsman

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has said the Government must be extremely careful when introducing new laws on statutory rape.

Minister for Justie Michael McDowell is expected to publish the new laws this afternoon in an effort to close the legal loophole created by last week's Supreme Court ruling.

The ISPCC says it would be very concerned if the measures included a change to the age of consent and wants any proposals to be assessed by the Ombudsman for Children.

"Dropping the age of consent for sex is not an appropriate response," spokesperson Tracey Monson said today.

"We have to think about the reason why the age of consent would have been 17 in the first place and look at how this has implications for children.

"Any legislation that is suggested needs to be passed by the Ombudsman for Children so that she can look at it and she will be best placed to make a decision around what's in the best interest of children."