Between 400 and 500 people gathered outside Leinster House in Dublin this afternoon to protest over what they claim are inadequate laws to protect children and victims of sexual abuse.
Protests were organised throughout the State by a range of victims' groups and supported by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) and the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI).
Children place white flowers in the railings at Leinster House in Dublin during today's protest. The flowers were to symbolise the innocence of children.
They were organised earlier this week in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment striking down a section of a 1935 law on statutory rape.
That ruling has resulted in multiple applications from people serving sentences for having sex with underage girls, on the basis that the law under which they were convicted was unconstitutional.
Many families, mostly women with young children, stood in sunshine outside Leinster House.
Some carried placards urging changes in the law to protect children, or posters urging a "name and shame" policy for those convicted of sex offences.
People travelled from as far as Belfast and Wexford to express their concern over the current state of the law on statutory rape.
Elizabeth Broekhoven, Blackrock
Some expressed anger at the release by the courts last week of a 41-year-old man who had been serving a three-year sentence for having sex with a 12-year-old girl after plying her with drink.
Elizabeth Broekhoven from Blackrock, Co Dublin, was at the protest with her daughter, Elizabeth, and granddaughter Lizze (12).
She said: "I came along because I think what's been going on is dreadful, and that the Government knew for so long that things should have been changed in the law.
"I have a 12-year-old granddaughter here and I think what if anything happened to her? I think it's very sad that we have to be forced to come here. We're not forced to come here, but morally, we are forced to be here."
A woman, who did not wish to be named, had travelled with a group from Belfast this morning.
"We just came down to lend our support to stop these predators getting out and endangering more children's lives, and to let people know down here that the people in the North are also thinking of them," she said.
Lorraine Smyth-Comiskey travelled from Wexford with her daughter, Aisling. She said she felt very strongly about the issue, particularly because she had young children.
Ciara Doyle travelled from Johnstown, Co Kildare, with her daughter, Abby, aged two-and-a-half. "I came because I'm a mum of two young children, and I've got nieces and nephews and neighbours with young children. I just think it's so sad that these guys are getting out and there will be other victims in the future. It doesn't have to be like this."
Damien English, Fine Gael TD
Also in the crowd was Fine Gael TD for Meath Damien English, who said he was delighted to see people taking such an interest in an issue that was "absolutely paramount to our children's safety.
"I have been saying for a long time that, across many issues, Dáil reform is needed," he said.
"What's happened this week is a very serious thing but it also shows how slow Dáil Eireann is to bring about changes and how slow it is to update laws.
"We do need to make people feel their children are safe and do all we can in our power. This is a failure of a system that is out of date. And our children are the ones that could have suffered this week. Because as it stands today, before we pass this new law, our children have not been as safe as they were two weeks ago."
Mr English said he believed the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) 2006 Bill before the Oireachtas today would close "a loophole" but was not perfect. He said he had asked the Minister for Justice today to consider amending the Constitution, if necessary.
"I am concerned that a 12- or 13-year-old girl should not be brought into the courts and should not be tried by barristers. I have asked that video evidence be used and I have asked the Minister today if he will explore constitutional avenues, to make our children even safer. If needs be, let's have a referendum."
"The legislation is not gender-neutral in all areas, and that could be a problem. There is a situation now where if two 16-year-olds have sexual intercourse, and she becomes pregnant, the father could be in prison when she's having the baby. That's madness - it has to be neutral across the board, and it has to reflect society," Mr English said.