Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

According to a report by the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to health published in 2010, "the conflation of consensual sex work and sex trafficking in such legislation leads to, at best, the implementation of inappropriate responses that fail to assist either of these groups in realising their rights and, at worst, to violence and oppression."

The Minister stated that consultation took place. Did she speak to sex workers? It is important she does so because I understand they were not properly consulted. If she insists on proceeding with the legislation, I implore her to ensure it is based on proper research. I do not believe proper research has been done in this jurisdiction. Research done in Belfast found that sex workers did not believe that the criminalisation of the purchase of sex would do them any favours in any circumstances. This legislation needs to be carefully considered before it proceeds.

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