Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

It has not yet been established that the BAI code is ineffective. The issue raised by the Deputy concerns whether so-called chat lines are, in fact, as he put it, a cover for prostitution. I find it difficult to think of anything positive that one could say about the advertisements in question. They are demeaning of women and, unfortunately, as the Deputy said, there is an issue affecting this as well as every other country of young women being trafficked. It was believed, even at the time the Bill on human trafficking was enacted, that it was an issue that affected other member states but not this country to the same extent. However, the evidence made available since suggests it is a matter of concern in this jurisdiction also. Now that the Deputy has raised the matter I will be pleased to draw the attention of ComReg to the issues he has raised. If it is his conviction - I will not press him on the source of his information - that the chat lines are a cover for prostitution, it would be appropriate to refer the advertisements to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

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