Plans to expand the passport “stop list” have been drafted to stop sex tourism.
Four-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Father Shay Cullen, who has been rescuing street children in the Philippines since 1974, said paedophiles should be barred from going overseas in the same way as suspected terrorists.
The Dublin-born priest said: “I expect the Irish people and the Dail will support it and set an example for other EU countries.
“As a result convicted child sex offenders will be unable to travel to countries such as the Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia where enforcement of child protection laws are very weak and children and their parents are vulnerable to the monetary enticements of well-off Irish sex offenders.”
Politicians from all sides will be asked to back the Sex Offenders Amendment Bill, with Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan aiming to introduce it in January. She said: “I’m optimistic but want to make sure it’s something that can be accepted by everybody.”
O’Sullivan said the aim is to prevent paedophiles with Irish passports travelling to places with lax child protection laws.
