Mr. Pat Leahy:

I will not deal with the legislation because it is the law. All I can say is that, again, the headspace around this issue in policing has changed substantially in recent years. In my time in the north inner city we dealt with specific issues in that area and all our engagements with the workers - the ladies themselves - were on the basis of their welfare. It was not to criminalise them but to see how safe they were and what we could do to improve safety. That is the space from which we have been operating for a while now.

I certainly do not have evidence of the legislation having a negative impact on policing at the moment. However, there might be somebody else better placed to give the Deputy an answer in that regard. Personally, I have not seen a major impact arising from the legislation and I have not heard soundings on consequences of the legislation.