Des Healy (17), Tramore
It's great we have the opportunity to express our views. The Government doesn't always understand that we have a view. I think the age of consent should be lowered from 17 to 16.
Sixteen is a mature age. You have done your transition year and are about to head into your Leaving Cert years.
It's also wrong that boys of a certain age can be convicted of an offence and girls can't.
I'd also support a two-year gap [under which a 16-year-old and 18-year-old could engage in sex and not break the law] - that would be a good move.
Sophie Walsh (15), Tallaght
There should be a two-year age gap which would stop young people being criminalised. I don't think an age of consent will stop young people having sex, but it could help protect teenagers from rape.
It's good that we have an opportunity to speak about what we feel. We're being listened to. Whatever happens, there might be a change in the law.
If there is, it's important that we - as the people who would be affected by any change - have a chance to have our say.
Mark Malone (16), Dún Laoghaire
When the law was changed last May it was rushed. It was signed into law in about a week, whereas other legislation takes much longer. There wasn't enough thought put into the change. It's as if the age 17 was just plucked out of the air.
I think the age of consent should be 16. You can get married at that age with parental consent. And marriage is a much bigger step than sex. You're also seen as an adult at the age of 16 in medicine. It would even things out across the board if we put the age of consent at 16.
Amy Dunne (16), Drogheda
Among teenagers no one seems to know and no one seems to care what the age of consent is. Teenagers will do it when they're ready to do it.
If there is going to be an age set, I think it should be 16. It's a time when everyone starts maturing. People are growing up faster these days. While teenagers mightn't pay much notice to an age of consent, there needs to be one. It would be wrong for 13 year olds to have sex, just because they're able to, for example. The age young people are getting involved in sex keeps getting younger and younger.