Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The points made by Deputy Catherine Connolly were very strong and she spoke a lot of common sene. I wish the Government would take some of them on board. Queens University, Belfast did some research that found it was a bad idea to criminalise the purchase of sex, but the Northern Ireland Executive ignored the research, despite the fact it was involved in commissioning it. Not listening to the people for whom we are supposed to legislate does not sit well with me. Just because those who choose freely to work in the industry are in the minority does not mean they are not entitled to rights. I agree with Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's amendment on money. It is common sense and money should not be taken from them in that manner. We need to be sensible. This is not something that should get bogged down in technicalities. If we are genuinely trying to help sex workers we would not penalise purchase.

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