David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. It is significant that he has attended the House for this important debate. I empathise with a great deal, but not all, of the content of the motion in the name of the Independent Senators. It is important that the Seanad be used as a place where there are intelligent voices of dissent, of which I hope to be one.

The motion's first point reads: "repeats its recognition that the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is a modern form of slavery and a form of human rights abuse". Of course it is; I could not agree more, but have the Senators ever heard of the male species? Did any of them ever think of the men and boys involved? Some of them did, but the only Senator who has had the decency to refer to them so far is Senator Cummins. Perhaps I am wrong.