Progressive Democrats candidate and child protection campaigner Colm O'Gorman has accused Opposition politicians of "scurrilous" scaremongering by suggesting last week that convicted rapists would be let out of prison because of the fall of statutory rape laws.
He also criticised "all parties" in the Dáil over the recent handling of the controversy, saying they had failed to act in the best interests of child protection.
"We saw people from all parties posturing, scoring political points and seeking to manipulate the situation," he said.
At his official nomination in Gorey yesterday to stand as a PD candidate in Wexford at the next election, Mr O'Gorman said the situation had resulted in the implementation of flawed legislation that now had to be reviewed.
Asked whether the Minister for Justice should bear a considerable portion of blame for his handling of the controversy, Mr O'Gorman said he was "not going to lay the blame at the feet of anybody".
He had no regrets declaring recently for the Progressive Democrats, amid huge attention on the initial handling by Michael McDowell of the issue.
"In my view the greatest loser has been the issue. We have the opportunity to see politics at its best . . . but politics failed miserably last week. Politics in Ireland needs a little bit more principle and a little less game-playing."
The issue should have been dealt with "objectively" and there should have been a move to reassure and allow for a discussion on the substantive issues raised by the Supreme Court case.
"I believe some members of the Opposition acted in some ways that were, quite frankly scurrilous". His comments in relation to this would have been "no different" to what he would have said if he was not standing for the Progressive Democrats.