Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Everybody has said there should be a review of the legislation and I agree. Three years is the appropriate time to begin to see the impact; that is the right approach.

I point out to Deputy Bríd Smith that the offence of loitering has been removed from the Bill. We build in reviews to legislation all the time. We do not define in legislation all the different aspects of the review. That would be quite an unusual thing to do, but I am happy to put the following on the record of the House. Obviously when doing a review of this new offence we would seek submissions from everybody, including those involved in sex work. I met representatives of the association and heard their views. People keep repeating that I have not taken into account the views of that group. I did take them into account, but I still think the approach taken in the legislation is the right one.

I will not repeat all the research I have used. Deputy Wallace keeps talking about an online anonymous study that was done; that is one study. I can quote to him the work of the Swedish Government, and the most recent report from the European Commission done by the University of Lancaster. I can also quote the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality all of which suggest this is the direction to take.

As Deputy O'Callaghan said, we have to review it. This is a very important issue. I note there has been much focus on the individual independent sex workers. There has been a focus by some Deputies, but not by others, on the wider exploitation associated with prostitution which is driven by demand.

All of those studies refer to reducing the demand and the very close link between human trafficking and prostitution. We see that repeatedly. All of the statistics indicate that the vast majority of people involved in prostitution now have been trafficked, and also that they are extremely vulnerable. I ask Deputies to accept that the review will involve all interested groups including An Garda Síochána and those involved in helping people to exit prostitution.

Deputy Coppinger should know that I have outlined a series of initiatives under the national action plan to support people to exit prostitution. There is greatly increased funding to the organisations working on the front line. The Deputy's amendment seems to imply that those supports are not available. Obviously, they are not written into legislation but all she has to do is look at the website of the Department of Justice and Equality to see the work we are doing.

I make the point that the statistics Deputies say they want to insert in the legislation are available from An Garda Síochána and from the Central Statistics Office.

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