Ms Monica O'Connor:

I have been there twice and have met the police and officials in the justice ministry. Like members of this committee, I asked a lot of hard questions. What is clear about the Swedish model is that the criticisms of it are opinions rather evidence-based. I have read the criticisms from people like Petra Östergren. One of the most common attacks on the Swedish model is that the prostitution is now underground, but all prostitution is underground. However, as Jonas Trolle of the special investigation unit has said, one presses a button and one is able to reach the prostitute. It is a market and the supply is available. It is not as underground as people think. In Ireland we researched the industry and found it is in apartment blocks. I was in apartment blocks in the Irish Financial Services Centre area. Prostitution is all over Dublin and I have been in many apartment blocks where women are available for sex. The reality is, if one wants to buy sex, it is very easy to find. The Swedish police are involved in tracking and surveillance and are finding it very easy to track and find prostitution.
Another issue concerns the debate about prostitution on the streets versus prostitution indoors. Prostitution is primarily happening indoors. It has been argued that it went underground in Sweden but over the last ten years, prostitution in almost every country has moved indoors, primarily. That does not mean it is underground. It is certainly true that it is far less visible than it is on the streets but should one wish to find it, to prosecute and reduce demand, it is not that difficult to do so.