Results 3,801-3,820 of 6,987 for speaker:Ruth Coppinger

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Regarding the legislative programme and the Dáil's business schedule, how will the findings of the Citizens' Assembly be handled? At the weekend it was reported in the newspapers that there had been an argument about whether they should be dealt with by the health committee or, as the Taoiseach told us when questioned, an all-party committee on which all parties and groups would be...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “ “consent” in reference to sexual activity, means voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question, unless otherwise stated in this Act. Allowing sexual activity does not amount to consent in some circumstances— (a) a person does not consent to sexual activity...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Members can joke about the wording but somebody who begins a sexual act and does not realise what it entails could then withdraw his or her consent. That is the point of subparagraph (h). I am willing to wait to see what the Minister produces as long as we have an opportunity to then amend it. These definitions have been suggested by people who deal with rape victims; they were not drafted...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: The Minister said she will table an amendment and, therefore, I am willing to have a look at that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: My amendment reads as follows: In page 18, to delete lines 27 to 30 and subtitute the following: “(d) in section 9, by the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraphs (i) and (ii): “(i) on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or, (ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: There was a case in Galway a month or so ago in which a number of women were fined heavily in court because they had been found guilty of being sex workers. However, the people at the top are being fined relatively paltry sums. The women concerned should not have been fined. The Tánaiste says she will bring forward an amendment, but how severe will it be? It is the case that it is...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: The reason I include a specific sum and term of imprisonment is they are included in the existing 1993 Act. It is a proposal to amend that Act to make it much more severe. It defines the organising of prostitution. It is very clear that it refers to a person who controls or directs, organises, compels or coerces. There are later amendments that I and others have. I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 13: In page 18, to delete lines 27 to 30 and subtitute the following: "(d) in section 9, by the substitution of the following subparagraphs for subparagraphs (i) and (ii): "(i) on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or, (ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €1,000,000 or to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Our amendment has been designed to deal with the situation where there might be two or more sex workers working together for protection but not necessarily with a pimp. I am not in favour of brothels operating without any action being taken. We saw what happened in the case of Rachel Moran who was in a brothel in Dublin at 15 years of age. Effectively, she was a child. However, the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: One of the problems I have with the Minister's comments is that currently many sex workers are pressured if they are arrested to say they are working on their own. Nobody else is involved, an issue the Minister said would arise if this provision was introduced. I am not a member of the committee and, therefore, I do not know which groups of sex workers were invited in, but I hope there...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 16: In page 19, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: “(g) in section 11— (i) by designating the existing section as subsection (1), and (ii) by inserting the following subsection— “(2) It shall be a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section that— (a) the brothel is used by that person to provide his...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I suggest that this section represents the continuation of a pattern of direct harassment of individual sex workers who are deemed to be "acting in a manner which consists of loitering in a public place". There is widespread agreement that this section should be deleted because it is not beneficial to anybody. If we are serious about the so-called Swedish model, which I do not think is what...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I was asked to move amendment No. 21 on behalf of the AAA-PBP group.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: I am a member of AAA-PBP.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Deputy Bríd Smith asked me to move it on her behalf because she was unable to make today's meeting.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Will I move the amendment?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: It is fine.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: It has been generally agreed that if the criminalisation of the purchase of sex is adopted, there should be a review to see how it impacts. That point has been made already.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2016)

Ruth Coppinger: Yes.