Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On the Minister's last point about exit strategies, the type of strategies needed genuinely to assist people who want to exit prostitution are financial support, language support and treatment for those who may have an addiction. A range of supports would be needed to allow those who want to get out of prostitution do so.

The Minister would argue that the reason criminalisation of the purchase of sex is being introduced is to send a message from society that buying sex is not acceptable, and that it will reduce demand for the purchase of sex. That is fine but if there are no real ways for people to get out of prostitution, they have to remain in it. The question arises that if we criminalise the purchase of sex without ways and avenues to help people get out of prostitution, we may make it less safe. That is a genuine concern. People are not saying that the buying of sex is wrong, but it is wrong. That message should be discussed in schools and in workplaces. It is an expression of power over another human being. On the idea that 99% of it is male, why are 50% not female? Obviously, it is related to gender and power in society.

It is all very well giving money to an organisation but the Minister is not allowing women who, for example, report traffickers, illegality and criminality to be dealt with in a very fair way. It is very likely, therefore, that it will continue. In any case, the Minister is not bringing in the Nordic model but if she were, I would look at it in a different way. I am not surprised by that. The Irish State does not have a great track record of doing these things for women and ordinary people in general.

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