Dr. Teresa Whitaker:

I thank Senator Bacik for her question. The reality is that selling sex is not criminalised in Ireland. Women can sell sex and it is not a crime. What is a crime is loitering, which is a nuisance in residential areas. The organisation of brothels is criminalised. The actual selling of sex is not criminalised. When one criminalises the buyer, it will have an effect on the seller.