Jillian van Turnhout (Independent)

I thank the Minister and warmly welcome him to the House. I even more warmly welcome the words he has shared with us. His commitment to the issue is clear but perhaps we can reflect on it somewhat. I tabled this motion together with my colleagues Senators Katherine Zappone, Fiach Mac Conghail and Mary Ann O'Brien. Much has been made of the six-month period, but my understanding was that the consultation process would be completed within that period. My role is to be a bit impatient and urge things to move forward constructively, not destructively.

In drafting the motion, we were conscious of what happened in the debate six months ago. Then we asked for legislation to be brought forward to criminalise the purchase of sex. We have listened and that is why today we are asking for a clear timetable on the consultation and clear steps for the Government's approach. The Minister has done that for us.

We had a debate last October but the more one immerses oneself in an issue, the more one can understand and appreciate it. My colleague Senator Mac Conghail spoke about bearing witness and it is important to do so. The most frequent argument I have heard against our call to the Government to criminalise the purchase of sex is that criminalisation would violate a woman's or man's right to self determination over his or her own body. I have not come to the issue lightly; I have done my research but I cannot agree with this argument. When we peel away the complex layers of how and why women and men sell their bodies for the sexual gratification of others, it is clear that their path into prostitution did not start with a simple exercise of self determination.

Research shows that a significant number of women end up in prostitution as a result of poverty, debt, homelessness and addiction, having been groomed by a partner, family member or friend. Many are there by force. As my colleagues have outlined, the sex industry in Ireland in inherently exploitative. It is characterised by coercion, whether through violence or economic hardship, which renders free and informed consent to prostitution all but impossible. Those who argue in defence of prostitution on the basis of consent should be mindful that the age identified internationally for entry into prostitution is 14. It is an age at which consent cannot be given, as I know the Minister will agree.

During the debate last October, I spoke about the devastating effects of prostitution on the physical, psychological and emotional welfare of those involved in it, and how unimaginable the impact is on children and child victims of trafficking. We can talk all day about reports, findings and statistics, but the most important evidence of the need to introduce legislation is to be found in the personal experiences of women and children in Ireland.

I acknowledge the Minister's commendable approach in listening to all the different perspectives of the consultation process. I think that is important. When I was preparing for the last debate and today's, I tried to listen to all perspectives. The difficulty is, however, that I have met with victims and have offered to meet with those who present themselves to me through e-mail correspondence as sex workers, but I cannot get a meeting. I want to put that on the record. I am willing to listen to different perspectives and talk to people. One may often get an email, but when one tries to follow it up the people are not there.

Some of the personal stories from recent years were lodged with the Department of Justice and Equality's anti human trafficking unit in September 2011 by the Children's Rights Alliance. One case identified a 17 year old girl from a rural village in Sudan. She was introduced to a Nigerian man by a family friend who promised her an education in Europe. The man brought her to Dublin via Manchester and Belfast. While travelling, she was told to assume a Nigerian identity. She was given clothes, boots and a bag of condoms, and told to do anything the clients wanted. She was forced to have sex with a minimum of four men a night.

In another case, a 16-year-old Romanian was brought to Ireland illegally and within a few months found herself living in fear of the man who brought her here. For two years she was held captive and forced to have sex with men in flats throughout Dublin city. She was subjected to frequent beatings, became pregnant and had a miscarriage when her pimp punched and kicked her in the stomach. She eventually escaped these horrific circumstances and went to the Garda Síochána.

Another eastern European girl came to the attention of members of the Garda Síochána who were called to a house in Dublin by neighbours. She was taken to hospital by ambulance following a beating by a man who had held her at the house and had forced her to have sex with 200 men. It subsequently emerged that she was six months pregnant. She informed gardaí that she had been taken by bus to Spain before being given a false Italian passport and trafficked into Ireland.

This is a real issue and I have no doubt that the organisations working with victims could cite so many more examples. Cases like these show an intrinsic link between trafficking, organised crime and prostitution. Findings from the two recently televised investigative documentaries on the organised nature of prostitution in Ireland support this link. I am not saying they are always linked, but there is a clear evidential link. While I recognise that legislative measures are currently in place to tackle human trafficking and organised prostitution, they do not sufficiently appreciate that link.

Furthermore, I believe they are clearly not working. Sexual exploitation of women, girls and men by organised criminals is rife. We must deter demand for prostitution. That is an integral part of the fight against organised crime and will reduce human trafficking. I see the merits of the Swedish model which criminalises the purchase of sex. Rather than operating in a punitive fashion, its existence alone has acted as a significant deterrent to purchasers of sex. It has also considerably reduced prostitution and associated crime.

I warmly welcome the commitments the Minister has given here today. He has given us a clear timetable. I understand that the Minister's portfolio is wide-ranging and deals with serious issues. I also appreciate the upcoming EU Presidency and am aware of how broad the justice portfolio is in an EU context. On 31 December, I will not be telling the Minister: "Hold on, you said...". We are trying to keep this issue in the spotlight because it is happening every day to those in the industry. I will therefore continue to be impatient and will not apologise for that. I do welcome the Minister's commitments, together with the Government's amendment. Hopefully we can all work together on this issue in future.