Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I have the 1993 Act in front of me. I read it three times while the Minister of State was speaking. It is not a very long Act. It does not cover the situation dealt with in Senator Mullen's amendment except in perhaps 10% of cases. I do not see any reference to the user of prostitutes in a way that covers this as Senator Mullen's amendment does. The Act refers to the organisation of prostitution, living off immoral earnings, the managing or assisting in the management of a brothel etc. It states that, "A person who in a street or public place solicits or importunes another person or other persons . . . shall be guilty" etc., but it does not in any way deal with the case before Senator Mullen. We will check the Official Report but if the Minister of State is saying this matter is already covered in legislation, I cannot see it. Before Report Stage, I will also read the Official Report of the debate on this legislation when it went through the Houses in 1993, and I am pretty sure I will be shown to be right on that point too.