To: Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children.

Grooming children should be a criminal offence

Grooming of a child for nefarious motives whether for monetary gain or paedophilic activity should be made a criminal offence. Legal clarity is needed for children who live in homes where domestic abuse occurs.

Why is this important?

I have direct experience of how the current child protection system does not protect children caught up in domestic abuse and family law procedures.
Children are not being protected by the Child First Guidelines, Tusla and the family law system but in fact are being placed in even great danger.
I do not believe this is an isolated issue but something that is happening to other families too.