The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald (pictured below) has indicated she will introduce a definition of sexual consent into Irish legislation for the first time.

It follows yesterday’s clarification from the Supreme Court on the issue of consent. Delivering the judgment of the seven judges who heard the case, Mr Justice Peter Charlton said yesterday that consent cannot exist if a woman, for any reason, is not in a condition to give it.

The definition is to be introduced in an amendment to the Sexual Offences Bill.

Rape Crisis Network, Ireland executive director Cliona Saidlear said it will bring new clarity to the law.

“(We) have been calling for a definition of consent to be in our legislation for some time now. We have asked the Tánaiste to include it and this morning she has said she is looking at that,” she said.

Read: Supreme Court issues ruling on consent in rape cases