Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has pledged to restrict the fallout from the Supreme Court decision to release a 41-year-old man who admitted having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
The Supreme Court last week struck down a 1935 law governing statutory rape as unconstitutional because it did not allow an accused person put forward a defence that he had made an honest mistake as to the girl's age.
The man known only as Mr A leaves the High Court after being freed on Tuesday
Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen
The man, Mr A, was freed by the High Court on Tuesday from prison, where he was serving a three-year sentence for unlawful carnal knowledge of a 12-year-old girl in 2003.
Speaking in Dublin this morning, Mr Cowen said the situation has come as a result of the Supreme Court decision.
"I respect the Court, of course I do. I mightn't agree with the outcome of the decision, as a parent apart from anything else of young children myself," he told reporters.
"But I have to now do our job by restricting, insofar as we can, the impact and the consequences that flow from it."
The Government has come under fierce attack from the Opposition over its failure to pre-empt the current situation by amending the legislation prior to the Supreme Court's decision.
The Supreme Court yesterday agreed to an early hearing tomorrow of an appeal by the State against the release of Mr A. At least six more cases of men jailed under the same law are expected before the courts.
One man is to apply to the High Court today for his release. The State is expected to argue today that this case should be adjourned, pending the outcome of tomorrow's Supreme Court appeal.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last night announced he was abandoning his plan to set a new age of consent for boys and girls at 16 as part of legislation to plug the gap exposed by the Supreme Court last week.
The Dáil and Seanad are likely to meet tomorrow to rush through a new Bill governing underage sex laws that will be drafted today.
The Opposition parties are expected to be given the first draft of this Bill this afternoon.