Ms Sarah Benson:

Brothel keeping is a tricky issue. We have significant concerns about cases of women being criminalised in circumstances where someone else is controlling them. The Swedish model is for Sweden and the Irish model needs to be for Ireland. We need to ensure that the legislative response that emerges maintains a penalty for the organisation of prostitution. However, we do not see any value in prosecuting women who are involved in prostitution on their own. We advocate an approach whereby the Garda would recognise that those at the coalface are vulnerable and should be treated as potential victims and witnesses. Such a policy is being taken at senior level, at least to some degree, but it should be rolled out throughout the force and should apply where there is clear evidence of the organisation of prostitution. This would be a matter for policy once the legislation has been re-examined. We do not want women to be criminalised.