Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Superintendent Healy mentioned that the impression from those who work in the sex trade industry is that the gardaí sporadically charge the industry. Is that the reality or is there a regular focus kept on the issue? As far as I am concerned, this is a situation in which women are exploited and abused. In spite of the major problems with policing, do the gardaí at senior level take the issue of prostitution seriously? The impression is that this issue turns up every now and again as a story. We need to focus on the sex industry because of the very violent criminal elements involved in the background.