New laws on consent will be considered by the government this morning.
The proposals put forward by the Justice Minister would mean someone accused of rape would have to show what measures they undertook to ensure consent was given.
Self-induced intoxication could not be used as a defence in rape cases.
If approved by cabinet ministers, the bill will be published by the end of this year.
CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, says it would be an important change to the law:
"No matter how bizarre a mans belief was, in the consent of the other person, if he could persuade the jury that he honestly believed that consent was there, no matter how odd that was, he would be acquitted of any crime whatsoever and would walk out of court and would be free to do the same thing the following day."
