Two independent legal experts will report to the Government annually on how new laws and court proceedings may impact on child protection, it was announced today.
Minister for Children Brian Lenihan announced the appointment of Professor Finbarr McAuley and Geoffrey Shannon as special rapporteurs in the wake of the "Mr A" ruling that struck out the laws on statutory rape last month.
Prof McAuley holds the Jean Monnet Chair of European Criminal Justice at University College Dublin, while Geoffrey Shannon is a solicitor and senior lecturer in family law, child law and human rights law at the Law Society of Ireland.
The Minister described the men as having "complementary skills" which will prove to be "an invaluable resource" to the State.
"Recent events have shown the complexity of the law in this area. That is why the Government has chosen to appoint specialists from both [civil and criminal law] these fields as special rapporteurs for child protection," Mr Lenihan said.
Their function is to give us "a bird's eye view" of legislation the Minister added.
The experts, who are accountable to the Oireachtas, have been appointed for three years on a part-time basis. Their work will be published annually and submitted to the Dáil and Seanad for debate.
The special rapporteurs are also entitled to consult with Government departments and the Ombudsman for Children about initiatives in relation to child-protection legislation and developing protocols to enhance that protection.
Mr Lenihan also said he would be seeking the views of teenagers on the age of consent for
sexual intercourse
and other matters relating to teenage sexual activity.
