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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Pornography.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

272 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the immediate measures, if any, he has taken to address the issue of child pornography; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3190/98]

The Deputy will be aware that on 18 December 1997 I published the Child Trafficking and Pornography Bill, 1997. This Bill, for the first time, defines child pornography and makes the possession of it an offence. It also makes it an offence to knowingly produce, distribute, print, publish, import, export, sell or show child pornography. Penalties on conviction of these offences range from a maximum fine of £5,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment for possession to a maximum fine of £100,000 and/or up to ten years imprisonment for the other offences. Also, the working group on the illegal and harmful use of the Internet has prioritised the issue of child pornography on the Internet. The group's first report, which will reflect this focus, is expected within the next few weeks.

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