Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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One of the problems I have with the Minister's comments is that currently many sex workers are pressured if they are arrested to say they are working on their own. Nobody else is involved, an issue the Minister said would arise if this provision was introduced.

I am not a member of the committee and, therefore, I do not know which groups of sex workers were invited in, but I hope there was engagement. There are different views among sex workers.

Some sex workers who may have a choice in the matter have a certain viewpoint but they would be a minority view, in my opinion. Other people involved in sex work, the majority of whom are women, are there because they are poor, because of their race and background or, in many cases, due to having an addiction.

The point I made about brothels is that there are 15-year old children in brothels. I did not mean that this was the only issue that existed. The Minister should consider the amendment. Our amendment seeks to ensure that one woman does not profit from the proceeds generated by or the work of another women and, therefore, it should be accepted.