Fiach MacConghail (Independent)

On the Private Members' motion that was discussed in October regarding the prosecution of purchasers of sex, which was highlighted by the Turn Off The Red Light campaign, I commend and applaud what happened in Limerick which has been outlined in a report in The Irish Times today. In Limerick 21 people pleaded guilty to soliciting or importuning for the purposes of prostitution between 11 November and 4 December this year.

As I said during the debate, those involved were ordinary Irish people who procured sex. The motion, which was defeated by the House, proposed to introduce legislation to criminalise such behaviour. It was promised that the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, would return to the House to introduce a broader consultation process which would ultimately lead to legislation. I ask the Leader for an update on that.

I support Senator Keane in her comments on disability allowance. The Independent group tried to raise the issue on the Order of Business yesterday with little success. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business.