The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is expected to be among a number of officials and organisations to appear before a special Oireachtas committee on child protection that is examining the fallout from the statutory rape controversy.
The decision to set up the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection was taken in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision's to strike down a law on statutory rape in May this year.
The committee will begin meeting in two weeks to discuss a number of issues, such as whether a referendum should be held on the issue of statutory rape. It is due to complete a comprehensive report on the issue before the end of November.
Yesterday was the deadline for submissions to the committee. In total, around 25 groups have provided detailed reports on a wide range of matters relating to child protection.
The chairman of the committee, Limerick East Fianna Fáil TD Peter Power, said the issue of a referendum was one of a number which would be examined. "One of the key functions of the committee will be to examine the desirability or otherwise of amending the Constitution to deal with the outcome of the CC case and/or to provide a new constitutional right for the protection of children," he said.
The committee will carry out a review of criminal law relating to sexual offences against children, while the issue of the age of consent will also be examined.
The committee includes Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan as its members. It is the first time Ministers have been nominated to serve as members of an Oireachtas committee and indicates the delicate political nature of the issue.
A number of NGOs have provided detailed submissions to the committee, including the Children's Rights Alliance, a coalition of 80 lobby groups. The Ombudsman for Children is expected to make a submission, as will the two special rapporteurs on children's rights appointed by the Government, solicitor Geoffrey Shannon and Prof Finbarr McAuley of UCD.
It is understood that the DPP may meet the committee to discuss difficulties arising from the statutory rape law. It would be a rare move by the DPP, who typically does not offer public comments. A number of committee meetings will take place in public and in private.
Mr Power said the State had "an absolute obligation" to ensure all laws and the Constitution were strong enough to protect children.
"Children, parents and all those charged with the care and protection of children need absolute reassurance that our laws are robust enough to deal decisively with those intent on shattering the lives of young children through sexual abuse and rape," Mr Power said.
"The outrage sparked by the Supreme Court decision among all right-thinking members of society . . . places an enormous onus and responsibility on the Government," he said.
