Teenagers are to be asked where the age of consent for sexual activity should be set.
The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children said today that the views of teenagers should be sought, as it is an issue which affects their lives more than any of those whose views have been aired on this matter.
Brian Lenihan told RTÉ News that when teenagers in Norway were asked for their views on the age of consent, they suggested an age of 18.
He was speaking at a news conference at which two Special Rapporteurs for Child Protection were named.
Professor Finbarr McAuley of UCD and Geoffrey Shannon of the Law Society will monitor legal developments nationally and internationally in the criminal and civil law respectively.
They will report once a year to the Oireachtas on developments which may affect child protection.
The new posts were announced in the wake of the controversy over the striking down by the Supreme Court of the statutory rape law.
Minister Lenihan said their appointment would not guarantee a repeat of that controversy, but it would ensure the Government and the Oireachtas were better informed about legal developments.
