The Dáil committee established in the wake of the statutory rape controversy last night failed to agree its final report, with members still split on the issue of the age of consent.
While the majority of members favour age 16, it is understood that Fine Gael members feel the age of consent should be set at 17.
The committee is due to present its report to the Taoiseach on November 30th and was hoping to agree its recommendations yesterday. It will meet again today.
The committee will be proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would make it impossible for an adult to defend having sex with a young person on the basis of mistaking his or her age.
The amendment is aimed at addressing the fall-out from the Supreme Court ruling in May allowing for a man's acquittal on the grounds that he genuinely believed a girl was old enough to offer consent for sex.
Other recommendations agreed by the committee include a ban on young victims of rape or sexual assault being cross-examined on their "sexual deportment", training for judges and legal experts in dealing with young people in the justice system, and more resources to allow for the provision of evidence from children via video link.