John Gormley

People in the Ringsend and Irishtown are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Alan Young on the weekend. I was only speaking to his sister, Paula, on Friday morning. She and her entire family have my deepest sympathy at this very difficult time.

– Tánaiste’s rushed laws may have omitted to criminalise the soliciting of minors

Reacting to news that laws prohibiting the solicitation of minors for sex may have been repealed as a result of fast-tracked legislation introduced last year, Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley said: “In the Dáil I previously referred to Minister McDowell as a binge legislator. He is somebody who piles up the legislation then rushes through it. Like all binges this can only end in a sorry mess.

“The mess in this case is the ill-thought-out Criminal Law Sexual Offences Bill that was fast-tracked through the Dáil last summer. These emergency laws apparently forgot to criminalise the soliciting, or ‘grooming’, of a minor for sexual purposes. In these times with stories about internet grooming and child abuse so alarmingly frequent, such an omission would be a national scandal.

“McDowell’s knee-jerk and populist approach to law-making is unsustainable and one of the main reasons why the country so badly needs a change of government.

“The Tánaiste is now living off his notoriety and nothing more. This latest example of incompetence will persuade even more people that he is unfit for government.”