Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Senator Katherine Zappone Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Do sexual assault laws discriminate against people with disabilities?

Senator Katherine Zappone thinks they need to be updated and will present a Bill on the subject in the Seanad today.

WHAT’S GOING ON in Leinster House?

Every day the Dáil and Seanad are sitting, TheJournal.ie brings you the most comprehensive guide to what our lawmakers are getting up to in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

So, here is what we can expect to be happening in the Dáil, Seanad and Committee rooms today…

3 things we’ll be keeping an eye on

  • 3.15 pm, Dáil: The Opposition will have Enda Kenny firmly in their sights during Leaders Questions.
  • 3.45 pm, Seanad: Senator Katherine Zappone will table a Bill that seeks to reform sexual offence laws “to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to ensure that people with disabilities have the same freedom to consent to sexual activity as people without disabilities”.
  • 5.15 pm, Committee Room 2: The Children’s Ombudsman will come before the health committee to discuss the services available to children in care; the HSE’s investigation into social work services in North Lee, Cork; and the implementation of Children’s First: National Guidelines.

Everything else happening in the Dáil

  • 2 pm: Labour leader contender Joan Burton will be answering questions related to the department of social protection.
  • 3.36 pm: The Taoiseach will answer questions related to his department.
  • 4.36 pm: The Order of Business will be read.
  • 5.06 pm: Four Topical Issues will be discussed where everything and anything could come up.
  • Afterwards, the Health Identifiers Bill 2013 will be discussed. The legislation would result in every patient and health service provider being given their own unique health identifier number that will work across both the public and private health service.
  • The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 will then be debated.
  • 7.30 pm: Sinn Féin will put forward a motion calling for the immediate establishment of a “fully independent judicial inquiry” into the mass grave found at the former site of Bon Secours Sisters mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway.
  • 9 pm: The Dáil will adjourn.

Everything happening in the Seanad

Everything else that’s happening in the Committees

Jobs Committee

  • 1.30 pm, Room 2: Debate will centre on the European Commission’s Country Specific Recommendations for Ireland; proposed job losses in Bausch and Lomb in Waterford and employment permits for migrants.

Agriculture Committee

  • 2 pm, Room 3: How can sustainable fishing be promoted in rural coastal and island communities?

Environment Committee

  • 2.15 pm, Room 4: Representatives from a number of groups including the Inner City Renewal Group, the Dublin City Community Forum and the Dublin Docklands Community Liaison Committee will discuss the future of the capital’s docklands.

Here’s how to watch what’s going on in Leinster House today:

Like politics? Then why not ‘Like’ TheJournal.ie’s Politics page?

Explainer: How does a bill become a law? >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Grey
    Favourite David Grey
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 9:54 AM

    There is no protection for people with intellectual disabilities!
    The questions asked by the Judges to people with Intellectual disabilities as to whether they are fit to give evidence is a joke and means many abusers walk away with cases thrown out!
    Sickening!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mill
    Favourite Catherine Mill
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 10:21 AM

    Add to this that judges are trained to see all Irish women as feeble minded.!!!!!! less evolved than men and so rape and abuse is acceptable.

    Let us start re training our judges away from thousands of years of old thinking.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Stephen Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 11:55 AM

    …how exactly are they trained to see women as feeble-minded?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Lennon
    Favourite Sarah Lennon
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 2:16 PM

    Why does you headline talk about protecting people with disabilities, when the stated aim of the bill is to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to ensure that people with disabilities have the same freedom to consent to sexual activity as people without disabilities.

    The point of reform in this area of the law is that the law is useless. It is not sufficiently protective at all where protection is needed and it provides a discriminatory stumbling block to people who wish to have intimate relationship.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Myles Duffy
    Favourite Myles Duffy
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 9:06 AM

    ‘A fully independent judicial inquiry’ would be an alternative to a partially independent, taxpayer funded judicial inquiry. Sinn Féin will have to expand their Kings Inn branch of the party

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Mill
    Favourite Catherine Mill
    Report
    Jun 10th 2014, 10:22 AM

    Good an investigation into the HSE child snatchers. Hope the Rhetoric case tactics are all explained to the house.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds