Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
Review of Legislation on Prostitution: Discussion
4:40 pm
Katherine Zappone (Independent)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentations. My question is primarily directed at Mr. Doran and his colleagues. He raised the question of whether prostitution comprises work. I am aware that a debate is ongoing in the trade union sector about whether sex workers should be represented or whether we should move towards legislation that creates better conditions. I ask for more information on the other side of the debate in the trade union sector. For those who argue that it is not work, is it not a job or is it just not a good job? If, for example, the individuals concerned are destitute and suffered little or no sexual violence in their childhood, would criminalising the buyer put them in jeopardy by removing their only source of income?