Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The Labour Party does not have a difficulty with this legislation. If it is necessary to put the legislation in place that should be done. I hope the provision has been thought through and is secure. A drip-feed of legislative measures dealing with issues as they arose would not be desirable. We should consider all possible future situations and put all necessary legislation, regulations and guidelines in place. Are the Minister or his officials engaged in drafting guidelines for Members? Will regulations accompany the legislation? The legislation is required; one cannot argue against it.

The need for legislation to control pornography has been discussed in the House. The Department has done work in this area but our society needs to consider this issue. While child pornography is generally abhorred, pornography itself is being mainstreamed and there are connections between the two areas. Within the pornography industry there are often links between people who are involved in either area. Exploitation is also a serious issue in the pornography industry.

Pornography has become acceptable. However, we must be aware that an image which may be fully legal may involve exploitation. As a society, we should do what we can to limit pornography in general. Of course, we must do absolutely all we can to prevent child pornography being made available.

Pornography has become prevalent and is being mainstreamed. Programmes on terrestrial television stations have portrayed the idea that the women involved in pornography are powerful and are making large amounts of money. However, that is not the reality. We must educate young people in schools to think about any image they see and to consider what is behind it, if someone is being exploited by it, who is making money from it and other such issues.

I have called for such a debate on the Order of Business. When it is held, I hope the Minister will come to the House to update us on his work on this and related issues.