THE RAPE CRISIS Network Ireland said today that lowering the age of sexual consent would only “compound State failures to protect the older child”.

The RCNI said that it is “not timely to consider the lowering of sexual consent” adding that the State is continuing “to fail to meet its obligations to protect and empower children”.

Age of consent

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter will put forward proposals to ministers today, which could see the lowering of the age of consent from 17 to 16.

The Executive Director of the RCNI, Fiona Neary said she read with “dismay” today that the Cabinet is to discuss lowering the age of consent to sexual activity, adding:

The age of consent is there to protect vulnerable children from coercion, pressure and abuse. The age of consent is not designed or used to punish teenage respectful experimentation.

She said the government might consider its “statutory obligations in terms of supporting, protecting and empowering children, in particular, the neglected older child”.

The RCNI called on the Cabinet to consider urgent action on addressing the vulnerability of the teenage child, stating that there are insufficient resources, time and commitment and that the “education system does not equip children to engage safely, within our cultural context, in respectful sexual relationships”.

Lowering the age of consent may simply undermine the State and the justice system’s capacity to respond to crimes, she said.

Neary added that with the proposed new junior cycle would be opportune space to increase education, but that “even the little we have is to become an optional short course”.

She was critical that there are no national guidelines or action plans to address sexual harassment and assault in schools, stating:

The State has turned a blind eye to the specific needs of the teenage child.

To contemplate lowering the age of consent with so little done or said to address their vulnerability would be to compound this neglect.

Poll: Should we lower the age of consent in Ireland?>