Legal Age of Consent?

ykt0di9url7bc3

AgeofConsent.Com is the Web's most authoritative source on when jailbait becomes fair game in the United States and more than 100 other countries. (A note to parents: Be suspicious if your 12-year-old wants to take his girlfriend to Iowa.)

Take a look at the legal age of consent from around the world here

I think it should be 16 in ireland.....:D

Bard

Originally posted by SearrarD

I think it should be 16 in ireland.....:D

I don't. 17 is young enough.

You're not 16 yourself by any change?

--

Oh, by the way... data also available here:

http://www.avert.org/aofconsent.htm

whats the story with three ages of consent in Argentina???

Shinji

Most Irish folk seem to think it's 16 anyway, since that's what it is in most other European countries afaik...

(I know I've been caught foul of that one personally. I was 17 at the time by the way, before any of you give me the knowing "Durty old man" stares...)

Cake Fiend

It's not that simple anymore. The legal age of consent currently depends on the age and sexual orientation of both partners. E.g. in some cases full intercourse is legal at the age of 15, in some it's 18.

I personally think this is too young. I was 17 at the time of my 'coming of age', as was my partner, but I count myself as mentally mature for my age in many ways, and at any rate, it wouldn't have harmed to wait a bit longer. Sexual activity is something that, while it can be 'just a bit of fun' between consenting and experienced adults, should (IMO) be initiated with someone with whom it actually means something.

WhiteWashMan

well, i was having sex at about age 12.
i started having sex with someone else at about 19.

to be honest i think 16 is too young ina society like irelands where the maturity of the youth leaves a little to be desired, but then again, horses for courses and all that. being an old man, it doesnt bother me. im hardly gonna be lucky enough to pick up a 16 year old now am i?

mind you.........

Xterminator

Originally posted by Shinji
Most Irish folk seem to think it's 16 anyway, since that's what it is in most other European countries afaik...

(I know I've been caught foul of that one personally. I was 17 at the time by the way, before any of you give me the knowing "Durty old man" stares...)

That is a good point shinji.
The age of consent is not really obout what age an individual is personaly ready to begin a physical relationship. We all know that different people develop at different speeds.

What it is about is criminalising the act of sex (including consentual sex) with a person of this age. Even if they mislead you of there real age.

If a 17 year old male has sex with a 15 year old girl, it is statutory rape.
If a 45 year old male has sex with a 15 year old girl it is statutory rape.

Perhaps some form of sliding age catagory should be applied. I.E. If some one of more that 4 years older than the minor has (consentual) sex with them it can be classed as rape.

Thus if the girl is 15, and the partner was up to 19, they could be considered her peer, it is not rape, but some one 20 or over would be taking advantage, thus is guilt of statutory rape.

It would seem fairer, espically if they lie about their age.
I know some 14-16 year olds who would pass for a couple of years older, they get served in bars etc.

If one of them goes off with a lad in the bar (you'd believe they were 18 if they were in a bar/club)with a lad who is 18, then currently the lad becomes a rapist under law.

X

logic1

Originally posted by Xterminator


That is a good point shinji.
The age of consent is not really obout what age an individual is personaly ready to begin a physical relationship. We all know that different people develop at different speeds.

What it is about is criminalising the act of sex (including consentual sex) with a person of this age. Even if they mislead you of there real age.

If a 17 year old male has sex with a 15 year old girl, it is statutory rape.
If a 45 year old male has sex with a 15 year old girl it is statutory rape.

Perhaps some form of sliding age catagory should be applied. I.E. If some one of more that 4 years older than the minor has (consentual) sex with them it can be classed as rape.

Thus if the girl is 15, and the partner was up to 19, they could be considered her peer, it is not rape, but some one 20 or over would be taking advantage, thus is guilt of statutory rape.

It would seem fairer, espically if they lie about their age.
I know some 14-16 year olds who would pass for a couple of years older, they get served in bars etc.

If one of them goes off with a lad in the bar (you'd believe they were 18 if they were in a bar/club)with a lad who is 18, then currently the lad becomes a rapist under law.

X

I couldn't agree more. It's even more appropriate to change the laws at the moment because younger girls do look, act and lie to seem older. They get into over 18 bars with ease and it's not often you ask for id before hitting the sack.

The laws concerning age of consent must be quite ancient though and as always trying to get law changed in Ireland is quite difficult.

Ah well...

Thank God for little girls.

.logic.

ykt0di9url7bc3

Well Xterminators point shows that the law needs re-thinking on this point...
As much as i can say it always going to be difficult to inforce a set age for consentual sex....
But the fact that the law was updated on this only 8 years ago and we still have a Zero-Torlerance attitude to it

The law is thier to protect society...is this attitude helping matters..

I Dont Know...i cant make up my mind about it

p

Originally posted by SearrarD
But the fact that the law was updated on this only 8 years ago and we still have a Zero-Torlerance attitude to it

I'd be surprised if many people get proecuted for having sex with an underage person, in the cases where it's consentual.

In ireland, it's 17 no matter what orientation you are,
except if it's lesbian, as AFAIK there isn't a definition of of what constitutes sex there.

- Kevin

smiles

IMO, 17 is a pretty good age for Ireland, but it definately depends on the person. Personally I know when I was a little younger that some girls i knew were totally against sex, and well, thats just the way the are, not like "run away run away" but more of a totally unsure and they seem to be glad that the whole age limit thing is there, it gives thems something to kinda use as an excuse.

As for the 4 year different idea someone was talking about, you'd have to take into acount the age of the girl... I mean a 13 year old girl and a 17 year old guy in my opinion is still too much of an age gap.

In both these cases neither consent on the part of the female or mistake on the part of the male as to her age will afford any defence.

As for not knowing how old someone is i know that from about 14/15 I was getting in pubs no problem and generally people seem to think i'm older than I am...

IRELAND LAWS: 1. Has no sodomy laws, the age of sexual consent is 17 for homosexual
males regarding anal and oral sex, 15 for lesbians, and for heterosexuals oral sex is legal at age 15.
.

I didn't realise there was a legal age on oral sex... oh well, i guess you live and learn.

(i) Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981 provides for the offence of rape, which is sexual intercourse by a man with a woman who does not consent to it. This may be committed with a female of any age.

The Irish laws dont seem to mention the idea of a guy being raped, which can happen.

<< Fio >>

PS. Did I mention i'm "barely" legal (7 days) ? :P

seamus

Originally posted by p

In ireland, it's 17 no matter what orientation you are,
except if it's lesbian, as AFAIK there isn't a definition of of what constitutes sex there.

- Kevin

Interestingly, if you notice, the age for oral sex is 15, so someone obviously reasoned that because lesbians don't have sexual intercourse in the true sense of the word, then what they do is just oral sex ---> Lesbianism -> 15. I'm off to teach some young girls the benefits of women-only relationships mmmmm

I think 17 is fine. 16 would be okay too, I don't think the courts tend to pursue it anyway if one person is 15/16, and the other 17/18, unless the 'offended's' parents insist.
IMHO, in general, ppl haven't the capacity to make proper decisions, ie see the consequences of their actions, until they are about 16. It takes a while to grow out of the childish, 'I should have everything I want & I'm the most important person in the world' and imo it's not until late teens/Leaving cert years that ppl grow out of it. That said, some ppl never grow up

adnans

it all depends on the person after all, some persons mature more quickly then others and such and it would also depend on their knowledge of sex, love and relationships. other then that, i think 16 is good ebough age to give teenagers the right to have sex if they want to (it was for me anyway).

it would seem a touchy subject in ireland if lowering the age of consent was brought up. to add a point, i would call to replace religion classes in secondary schools to teach teenagers about sex, relationships and other things associated ie. make a good effort to educate young people about it.

age-of-consent-countdown
http://www.geocities.com/extangel97/charlottechurch.html

adnans

smiles

Originally posted by adnans
to add a point, i would call to replace religion classes in secondary schools to teach teenagers about sex, relationships and other things associated ie. make a good effort to educate young people about it.

6th year in my school (and in most other ones i know of) is spent on love, sex and sexually transmitted diseases/aids. Then it wanders into more religious stuff like marriage and moral decisions etc.

Basically the government insists that it must be taught and religion is the only class where *everyone* will get educated (well this is what our religion teacher explained it to us as). Basically they give the facts, and get peoples opinions on everything and then kinda tell us what the christian moral standpoint on it is, and then general discussion takes place.

<< Fio >>

koneko

I agree with most people here, 17 being the the lowest age. I've seen people get messed up and end up teen mothers or users/abusers because of getting into situations they can't emotionally handle, which is a shame, cos one stupid decision wrecked their lives.


Interesting points on that site regarding homosexuality:

Pakistan
1. Homosexual activity is illegal, punishable with life in prison, and corporal punishment of 100 lashes, while Islamic law, which also can be enforced legally, calls for up to 100 lashes or death by stoning.
ALTHOUGH
NOTE: 1. Pathan culture in the Northwest Frontier province allows men to have younger men as lovers.
(meow!)

In Ireland:
Subject: 10) Wasn't homosexuality banned in Ireland?
Homosexual acts were illegal in Ireland up until the summer of
1993. The Offences against the Person Act lifted the ban, and
declared the age of consent to be 17, the same as that for
acts between heterosexuals.

Intesting site!

bonkey

Originally posted by smiles
The Irish laws dont seem to mention the idea of a guy being raped, which can happen.

Actually, IIRC, in Ireland there is no such thing as male rape according to the law. I vaguely remember being shocked at this, but apparently a male cannot be raped. It gets classified as something like sexual assault, which carries lesser sentencing.

Also, I was wondering, if a 15-year-old bloke has consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl, what is the crime? And if there is no such thing as male rape, does this mean that the guy is guilty of a greater crime than the girl?

hmmm..

jc

Chaos-Engine

thistopic is something i have been thinking about lately since a friend of mine was charged for having sex with a 16 year old girl.... he was 17... Most ppl think 16 is legal right... and for god sack he is 17... Most girls go out with guys a year or so older than them as us guys just don't mature fast enough for them..

I agree with a duel band system...
-Legal age of consent should be 15 for sex with someone up to the age of 18(max)
-Legal age of consent for every other age should be 16(maybe 17)

The question whether is someone ready or not isn't easy to answer... In my eyes sex isn't that big a deal. Aslong as the parties involved know what there up to and understand the consiscences involved... Basically "You can never be prepared for the unknown until it happens"(emotionally specking, should always be prepared for disease, pregency, lub, etc)

My first time was when i was 17. She was 16(apparently i was breaking the law)... She had been having sex for about 2 years and with guys in their 20s... ANyway, I was scared sh1tless. But i would have to say it was overpowering and i wasn't ready for it either. But then again when would i be ready. Once it happened i had no regrets.. Sexual intimacy with someone you trust is an amazing thing. Anyway 3 years later I don't regret having it then even though i don't think i was ready at the time. But i learned by EXPERIENCE. And i think Young teenagers (below 18... and above 15) should have that opportunity to experience sex with themselfs and not adults...
However lower than 15 and its dangerous territory. My brother was 14 when he lost his virginity with the wrong person and far too early... He payed the price.. A world of ****.. (no he isn't a father and no she was the smae age) ....

On a related topic... May i recommand you all read
"Promiscuities" by Naomi Wolf
especially if you are a femme... Very good book about sexuality

amp

Am I right in thinking that for a while here the legal age to marry was 16 but the age of consent was 18?

Not tonight dear, it's illegal.

WhiteWashMan

you can join the army and shoot someone at 16, but you cant choot your load in your wife
hahahahahahaha
bump.