ISSUES ARISING from the "Mr K" case must be carefully deliberated upon, Tánaiste Brian Cowen told the Dáil.
On Wednesday, the man who had consensual sexual intercourse with a then 13-year-old girl on Howth Head in Dublin in 2001 became the first to be found not guilty by a jury because of his belief as to her age at the time.
Mr Cowen said an all-party committee was considering in what way matters could be advanced beyond the legislation the Government was forced to enact following the C case in 2006, permitting the defence of honest mistake. "It is important to see if the committee can advance the work it is doing and draw consensus around the issue."
Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton had asked if the Tánaiste saw a greater urgency to proceed with a referendum on absolute child protection. He added that his party had urged that a referendum be taken early.
"The Government did not decide to go that route. Useful work is being done in the committee established to consider this."
