Departmental Strategies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024

Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Questions (1105)

Joan Collins

Question:

1105. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the likely date for an awareness raising campaign to commence in relation to the new Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 (details supplied); if the details of the campaign have been decided; if assurances will be given that this awareness campaign on the OPSC will be made available to the general public; and if so, the way this will be done. [11773/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023, which is currently before the Houses, will remove the final obstacles to ratification of the Protocol. The Bill will deal with the issues relating to extra-territorial jurisdiction and amend the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 by the insertion of the Second Optional Protocol to the list of international agreements to which the Act of 2008 applies to ensure that Ireland is compliant with the requirements of the Protocol.

Information on the Second Optional Protocol will initially be made available on the Young Ireland website, which is currently being designed, and further information raising actions will be decided as matters progress.