<p>
	nd sex abusers who continue to harass their victims will be jailed for up to five years if prosecuted.</p>
<p>
	The sex offences legislation will also allow for electronic tagging of certain high-risk offenders who are subject to post-release supervision orders.</p>
<p>
	Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald&#39;s new legislation will also make it illegal to pay for sex - but prostitutes will not be criminalised.</p>
<p>
	The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014 is aimed at clamping down on sex abusers who use the internet to lure in their victims.</p>
<p>
	The move is intended at assuaging the fears of parents that their children are being stalked by sexual predators.</p>
<p>
	The legislation adds a range of provisions to make it a criminal offence to target children through technology and communications.</p>
<p>
	The bill says where an adult uses the web to contact a child &quot;for the purpose of facilitating sexual exploitation&quot; they can be jailed for up to 14 years.</p>
<p>
	Those who assist sex offenders in exploiting a child can also be jailed for up to five years.</p>
<p>
	A specific offence of inviting a child to engage in sexual touching also carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.</p>
<p>
	The legislation allows for an harassment order to be imposed by the courts on offenders convicted of sexual offences preventing contact with the victim or their family or friends.</p>
<p>
	The court can issue the harassment order at the request of a garda above the rank of inspector or a probation officer.</p>
<p>
	The measure is an attempt at protecting victims from being contacted again by their abuser.</p>
<p>
	The penalty for contravening the harassment order will be a term in prison of up to a year on summary conviction.</p>
<p>
	But on conviction on indictment this rises to a fine of &euro;10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years - or both.</p>
<p>
	In total, there are 62 different measures in the legislation.</p>
<p>
	Paying for a prostitute will be made illegal under the new laws approved by Cabinet this week.</p>
<p>
	But the proposed legislation will not criminalise prostitutes.</p>
<p>
	The proposed legislation will follow the Scandinavian example of penalising the &#39;buyer&#39;, but not the &#39;seller&#39;.</p>
<p>
	Purchasing sexual services will be liable to a fine of &euro;500 on the first offence and &euro;1,000 for a subsequent conviction.</p>
<p>
	Knowingly purchasing sex for a trafficked person will be an offence carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.</p>
<p>
	The legislation will allow sex offenders to be electronically tagged in exceptional circumstances.</p>
<p>
	The bill will result in a major expansion of the Irish Prison Service&#39;s capacity to roll out electronic tagging.</p>
<p>
	Under the proposals, probation officers attached to the prison service will make an application in court for a prisoner to be tagged.</p>
<p>
	The Immigrant Council of Ireland says sexual exploitation lies behind most human trafficking in Ireland, with a UN report identifying 132 victims.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/predators-to-get-14-years-jail-for-child-grooming-30778331.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/predators-to-get-14-years-jail-for-child-grooming-30778331.html</a></p>
