THE Seanad gave an unopposed second reading to a private member's Bill, introduced by Dr Mary Henry (lad), aimed at combating the organisation in Ireland of child sex tours abroad.
The Child Sex Tours Bill (1995) seeks to make it an offence for any person to arrange or to organise travel, inside or outside the State, on behalf of any other person with the intention of facilitating the commission of child sexual abuse. The Committee Stage was set for [next Wednesday.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, congratulated Dr Henry for her initiative in bringing forward the Bill. She pointed out that another complementary Bill was currently before the Dail which seeks to deal with the same area.
"This means that we have the unusual situation of having two Bills before the Dail and Seanad dealing with closely related issues. I think we would all agree that we should adopt the best ideas from both sets of proposals so that we do our very best to make the proposed law as effective as possible.
"I have no proprietorial interest in either Bill and I am anxious - as every member of this House is - to pool our ideas on these issues so that we emerge with the best possible result," the Minister said.
In the Dail, the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Bill, 1995, was drafted by Fianna Fail's Mr Eoin Ryan and Mr John O'Donoghue. The Bill seeks to make it an offence for an Irish citizen or resident to do any act abroad which, if done in Ireland, would constitute a sexual offence against a child.
It is also awaiting a Committee Stage debate.
Mr David Norris (Ind) welcomed the "historic" openness of the Minister to a private member's Bill. It was more than a breakthrough Dr Henry had achieved, he declared, adding: "Let it be a benchmark".
In her opening speech, Dr Henry praised the recent series of reports by Nuala O Faolain in The Irish Times, "which gave the public in Ireland" an unexaggerated picture of this activity in the Philippines".
Ms O Faolain was unreservedly congratulated by all speakers in the debate.
Dr Henry cited Thailand and Brazil as countries with serious problems where officials are fighting the abuse of children.
The Minister said that Dr Henry had a proud record of compassionate support for victims of sexual violence and exploitation and was to be commended.
"It is difficult to imagine a more repulsive trade than that of bargaining the sexual exploitation of children, and we in the Oireachtas must do everything possible to prevent Ireland taking any part in what is a growing world phenomenon."
There was no doubt that the international community had a role to play in eliminating child sex tourism, the Minister said.
In her summary, she said: "I agree with the objectives of this Bill and I am not, therefore, opposing second stage. However, the Bill gives rise to serious issues which must be addressed if the legislation is to be workable and practical.
"We have to take account of the Bill passed second stage in the Dail and see how best the two sets of related proposals can be integrated into a co ordinated reform of the law.
"I believe the best way forward is to base any new offences on existing Irish law and that is what the Sexual Offences (Jurisdiction) Bill does. However, I also believe that the essence of this Bill, the criminalisation of child sex tourism, can be adapted to that approach. I intend to put forward suggestions to the Dail to that end".
Fianna Fail's Mr Dick Roche said he first encountered "this putrid problem" many years ago as chairman of the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace. The Dutch charity, Child Rights Worldwide, suggests that at present more than one million children are victims of the predatory activities of western Europeans.
"I suggest to the Minister and the drafters of both Bills that they should be combined and put before a joint committee of the Oireachtas, with a view to producing one piece of legislation."
His party colleague, Mr Michael Mulcahy, called on the Government to introduce more [comprehensive legislation to deal with all aspects of both sexual tourism and sexual offences committed abroad.
Mr Liam Cosgrave, (FG) said the House was indebted to Dr Henry, Mr Ryan and Mr O'Donoghue for providing a forum for debate on this tragic area where children, the most vulnerable of all, were affected.
Mr Joe Sherlock (DL) said: "Child sex tourism is surely the ultimate in social dumping."
The leader of the Labour group, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, said she was extremely concerned about the easy accessibility of Internet to both children and adults.
. The Domestic Violence Bill 1995 passed the committee and all stages and now goes to the President for signing.
The House adjourned until Wednesday at 2.30 p.m.