Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Whitaker for her presentation. She has described prostitution as a form of work that can be chosen voluntarily. Where is the evidence that sex workers in Ireland are engaged voluntarily in the work? I have done a good deal of reading on the subject and listened to people who have exited prostitution. Much of the information we are receiving suggests that people enter prostitution at a young age and for various reasons. The market demands young people - male, female and transgendered - and my question is how these young people can be said to choose the business voluntarily. What is the age threshold at which Dr. Whitaker would say that such a decision can be taken voluntarily? Where does her organisation stand in this regard?