Latest on the Sexual Offences Act - not looking good.

[MidlifeCrisis]

I had a look on-line for more on this, and found the site below, which seems to be a good way to see all that is going on. The links take you to full minutes of each of the Oireachtas sessions.

https://www.kildarestreet.com/search/?s=sexual+offences

It looks as if it will reach the final stage - the Report Stage - tomorrow. I don't know how long that lasts, but unless I have misunderstood, we could be days away from the Bill passing. I think when it passes it may not be law immediately, but it will set a date for it going live which could be a number of weeks ahead.

I read some of the minutes. The four biggest parties are all in full support. The only notable dissenting voices have been Senators David Norris and Mary White, who have both talked sense, making all the points that we would make. Norris in particular has been a constant heckler and critic of the lack of proper consultation. Mary White is planning to propose an amendment that forces the criiminalisation of clients bit to be reviewed after two years, but I don't think the amendment will pass.

If anyone understands this stuff better than me, and can shed a more optimistic light on it, please chip in, but it looks to me as if it will be law by the spring.