Ireland's child protection and vetting procedures lag seriously behind other countries, particularly Northern Ireland, the Dáil was told. "Ireland does not offer the best possible protection . . . and child safety is clearly not a priority until something happens," said Fine Gael's education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright.

She was speaking during a private member's debate on her party's Bill to create a national database of criminal sentences.

Referring to the man released by the High Court in the wake of the Supreme Court decision on statutory rape, Ms Enright said "quite possibly if Mr A wants to get a job in a school tomorrow . . . no one will be any the wiser about his previous behaviour".

Sinn Féin's justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the register could victimise people who had paid their debt to society.

The Bill was rejected.