Press conference on age of consent

Diary date:

Press conference on age of consent

Thursday, 17 April 2008, 1.00pm

The Barnett Suite, Stormont Hotel,

Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3LP

PICTURE ATTACHED: OFMDFM Minister, Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA, (pictured right) at Stormont receiving a hand-delivered letter signed by key stake holders expressing opposition to NIO plans to lower the age of consent from 17 to 16. Pictured (left to right): Callum Webster, Northern Ireland Officer The Christian Institute; Jeffrey Donaldson MP, MLA, junior minister OFMDFM.

The letter reads: “We the undersigned express our strong opposition to the plans by The Northern Ireland Office to lower the age of consent for sexual activity. We call upon the First Minister and the Assembly to resist the imposition of this legislation on Northern Ireland.”

Signatories to the letter are: Dr Richard Barr, Director, Love for Life; Eileen Calder, Director, Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Centre, Northern Ireland; Fred Corscadden, Chairman, Northern Ireland Association of Christian Teachers; Chloe Hemphill, Director, Girls Brigade Northern Ireland; Philip Hewitt, Adviser for RE and Personal Development, North Eastern Education & Library Board; Prof Norman Nevin, President, Boys Brigade Northern Ireland; and Callum Webster, Northern Ireland Officer, The Christian Institute.

Speakers at the press conference will include signatories of the letter. Speakers are:

Jim Wells MLA – DUP

Danny Kennedy MLA – UUP

Pat Ramsey MLA – SDLP

Prof Norman Nevin – President of the Boys Brigade

Dr Dickie Barr – Director of Love for Life

Eileen Calder – Director of NI Rape Crisis Centre

Callum Webster – Northern Ireland Officer, The Christian Institute

Statements will also be read out from:

Cllr Kieran McCarthy MLA (Alliance, Strangford)

Mrs Chloe Hemphill (Director, The Girls Brigade, NI)