SEANAD REPORT: The Minister for Justice should attend the Seanad to discuss members' concerns about the type of sentences imposed on rapists and other perpetrators of serious violence against women, said Ms Helen Keogh (FG).

"It's very important to say that young women must report assault, and unfortunately the message and the type of language that was used in a recent notorious case, I think, does not help that."

Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) called on the Minister and the Government to respond to what she said was a major dent in the confidence of Irish women in the legal system's response to violence against women, particularly rape and sexual assault. This followed the suspended sentence in the case of one rape, and the widely reported case this week "where the individual in the X case was found to be loose and was found guilty of another sexual assault against a teenager".

A debate was needed on the extent to which this had undermined the confidence of Irish women. "This is an extremely important matter. The Minister for Justice should be asked to come forward with a response to these particular issues," she said.

Dr Mary Henry (Ind) said she supported the calls for a debate on the rather casual attitude to violence against women.

"But I wonder what notice will be taken of the debate, because I brought up the issue in this House with the Minister for Justice and with the Carriage Office that the man convicted in the X case was driving a taxi, long before the present victim was assaulted."

The leader of the House, Mr Cassidy, said he would convey the members' views to the Minister.