Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I agree with Senator Zappone, and although I did not see the documentary I am very familiar with the issues. We must change the law in this country and make the lives of people who would purchase the bodies of others much more complicated. We must target and hassle them, and we need a law that can be enforced. We must also push back against spurious arguments that suggest that if we criminalise the purchasers of persons in prostitution, we somehow make the position of certain persons in prostitution more dangerous. I have heard the bogus argument that some will go indoors with prostitution, with others left vulnerable on the streets and exposed to risky and more dangerous customers. That is a bogus argument. A law that targets the users of persons in prostitution will diminish the appetites of those who would seek to avail of this. It will act as a deterrent and bring down the numbers of people using persons in prostitution. It will inhibit trafficking of persons to this country for the purposes of engaging in prostitution.

We must heed Senator Zappone's remarks and move fast. We must encourage the Minister for Justice and Equality and his Department to bring forward legislation on the issue quickly.