Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has raised the sentencing of Tom Humphries in the European Parliament, during a debate on combating sexual harassment and abuse.
Former journalist Humphries has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for grooming a teenage girl and sexually abusing her.
Ms McGuinness said "the sentencing of a journalist, who was regarded as eminent and highly respected, for child sex abuse offences has been criticised for the leniency of the conviction and sentence. He received two and a half years and the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has led complaints about this."
The Vice President of the European Parliament added "I suppose, what that shows is that even when the law takes its course, society and families are not always satisfied by the outcome and that is something we need to be conscious of."
She said "I visited a women's refuge recently in my constituency and sexual violence is all too prevalent. But I am glad to say there is help and support available and I would urge people to reach forward for that support."
MEPs complimented the bravery of women who have come forward as part of the #MeToo social media campaign during the debate on combating sexual harassment and abuse in the EU this morning.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom noted that at least one in every three women has been the victim of sexual or physical violence.
She paid tribute to the #MeToo social media campaign as it helped to release the "real stories that have been kept locked in, in the hearts and minds of women across the world who have been silently trying forget about" as a way overcoming the pain caused by sexual harassment.
She said the #MeToo campaign marks a "a feminist outcry from women across the world who are now saying 'enough'."
The debate comes in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment made against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and subsequent reports that "the European Parliament is a hotbed for sexual harassment."
A number of MEPs spoke of being sexually harassed in lifts and offices in the European Parliament.
German Green MEP Terry Reintke was applauded after she told the parliament that she too has been "sexually harassed just like millions of others in the EU. We should not be ashamed but the perpetrators should be ashamed."
When and why are character references introduced in court?
Charity CEO criticise leniency of sentence
The CEO of Barnardos has said the sentence handed down to Tom Humphries was incredibly lenient.
Fergus Finlay said that Humphries had engaged in a calculated, purposeful, deliberate criminality over a long period of time, that destroyed the life of a young girl.
He told RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke that a paedophile has no redeeming features and it was inconceivable to say that someone is "much more than a paedophile."
Mr Finlay said anyone asked to give a character reference should consider the request carefully.
He said that the GAA did a sterling job in terms of child protection but now and again people did slip through the net.
However these issues, he said, should not be confused with the victim at the centre of the case, whose life was taken over by Humphries.
