The Garda investigation into an alleged paedophile ring involving the abuse of a 14-year-old boy was at a critical stage, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil.
"It is being treated by the commissioner and senior gardaí as a very serious case."
Mr Ahern said it was "a disturbing and worrying" matter, and the information he had received fitted those categories.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny referred to "an insidious destruction of innocence", adding that two members of "noble professions", a garda and teacher, were allegedly involved.
Mr Ahern said that the mother of the alleged victim went to Santry Garda station, in north Dublin, last week, and handed over her son's mobile phone to the gardaí.
The phone contained "abusive sexually orientated messages", he added. He could confirm, he said, that a serving member of the Garda had been suspended and was under investigation with other persons.
Mr Kenny suggested that Minister for Education Mary Hanafin introduce an information campaign, through the schools' network, on the danger of paedophilia.
He also suggested that Mr Ahern speak to the chief executives of the mobile phone companies about the use of sexually explicit text messages.
Mr Kenny said he knew from talking to a number of them in the past that it was possible to block pornographic material on mobile phones.
He asked about the progress on the proposed referendum on children's rights.
Mr Ahern said that a number of campaigns relating to the safety of children had been launched by the Government.
There was also a campaign on safety for users of the internet and other technology.
All new teachers were vetted.
He added that Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan was anxious to talk to the Opposition spokespersons to try to come to a conclusion on the referendum. He hoped that could be done over the next few days.
Mr Ahern said that people in positions of trust had to understand that they had to be far removed from anything which broke that trust.
Earlier, Mr Kenny said that the young boy's mother became aware of "extremely inappropriate texts" on his mobile phone.
Having quizzed the young boy, it transpired, apparently, that he was being sexually abused by up to 10 men.
He had given detailed evidence of his experience. There was no worse tag than that of paedophile in society, said Mr Kenny.
"There is no worse nightmare for any parent than paedophilia.
"How many parents, in this country over the years, have asked their children to contact a garda if they had any information or were in any difficulties?
"And while I do not want to speak about the issue now under investigation, obviously this makes their blood run cold."
Mr Kenny said that a "certain seediness" had crept into Irish society and there was now a situation where young children's sexuality was being commodified.
"If these reports are true, it makes a mockery in some sense of the safeguards and criteria we lay down to safeguard our children."
Mr Kenny recalled that in December 2003 his party's spokeswoman on education, Olwyn Enright, had put forward a series of proposals relating to the vetting of those working with children.
It was an issue relating to protection and information about protection, he added.
