Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Howlin has tabled an interesting amendment, but I am concerned about its breadth. It refers to a person who pays or gives another person money or other consideration for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a prostitute. That could apply in circumstances where a man pays another man money in respect of sexual activity he has had with a prostitute. It would not necessarily involve the payment of money, which is the intention, by the man to the prostitute.

I am slightly concerned that the amendment would enable pimps and other individuals to receive money from other men who were availing of the use of prostitutes who are under the unfortunate control of these pimps, and that they would then be able to say that the money is excluded under the proceeds of crime legislation.

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