Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Lobbying Organisation Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Date published 21 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Justice and Equality

Period 1 Sep, 2015 to 31 Dec, 2015

Specific Details We welcomed the Criminal Law (sexual Offences) Bill 2014 but felt it fell short in having no statutory definition of consent. Given the difficulties in proving an absence of consent in sexual offence cases, we believe a definition would go some way towards clarifying the uncertainties in this area.

Intended results The inclusion of a statutory definition on consent in the Crimal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ellen O'Malley Dunlop

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

The one area that we believe would strengthen the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014 and keep more victims of sexual crimes in the Criminal Justice System is a definition of consent and it is not included. The DRCC, having consulted with our sister RCC’s, the Union of Students of Ireland and the White Ribbon Campaign, launched a national campaign on AskConsent supported by Cosc. It was a Bill Board and a social media campaign. The main purpose was educational and encouraging young people to talk about what consent means. In educating young people how to communicate appropriately during sexual encounters, it will also play a preventative role by reducing the potential for non-consensual sexual activity to occur.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Ivana Bacik Senator (Seanad)