Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will not have a meeting of minds on this. This boils down to whether or not we support the model proposed by the Turn Off the Red Light campaign and it will be an ongoing debate. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and I would like to see us take up a body of work in this regard. We hear many different views on whether it works or not and much research has been done. We will not resolve it here on Report Stage of this legislation. As a member of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, as are three other Deputies who are present, I propose the committee examines this issue, including all the research, and issue a report. I would like to think if this report comes back with information contrary to the Minister's research that it would feed into any report under the legislation. The drafting and rationale of the legislation is based on the Turn Off the Red Light campaign. If there is significant research to contradict it the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality has an onus to look at it, compile a report and feed it into any report under the legislation. We will not come to an agreement on whether it is done after three years or two years, but the important work will be done by the committee between now and the report on the outworkings of the legislation.

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