Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am not in a position to offer a view on that point. If I did so, I would only be speculating.

We tried to obtain reasons that language which includes terms such as "solicit" and "importune" were used in previous statutes. It is clear that this does not have to be for the purpose of prostitution, so, since 2001, it does not have that narrow meaning.

See this speech in context