Averil Power (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, and regret that the Minister for Justice and Equality was unable to stay. I hope the Minister of State will highlight the issue I raise with the Minister. I propose to share time with Senator Catherine Zappone. I also welcome Ms Geraldine Rowley from Ruhama to the Visitors Gallery.

The Minister of State may have seen the "Prime Time" programme on prostitution which was broadcast on Tuesday last. The investigation highlighted the appalling circumstances experienced by women who are trafficked into this country and forced into prostitution. As Sarah Benson of Ruhama stated on the programme, prostitution is a market led trade and trafficking has become so prolific that so-called punters are able to order sex like they order takeaway food. Men pick up the telephone night after night and ask themselves whether they will have Chinese that night or if they will try Thai or Polish.

Pimps are making millions from this modern form of human slavery. Estimates put the value of the Irish sex industry at €250 million per annum. The nature of prostitution has changed dramatically, having moved from street corners, dark lanes and parked cars to anonymous apartments all over the country. Convicted pimps are continuing to operate without any fear of getting caught because the penalties are minuscule compared to the profits. We saw in the "Prime Time" programme Samantha Blandford who was convicted of organising prostitution some years ago and walked away with a fine of €6,500 and an 18 months suspended sentence. She was on the programme trying to recruit one of the "Prime Time" reporters as a prostitute, without any fear of getting caught.

The evidence from Sweden and Norway shows the best way to reduce prostitution is to criminalise supporters of sex. There is a growing coalition outside the House, under the umbrella of the Turn off the Red Light campaign for Irish laws to be changed in that respect. Last October, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in response to a Private Members' debate tabled by Senator Zappone and her colleagues said the issue is being considered by the Government. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, if he can provide an update in that regard, because the law needs to be changed as a matter of urgency. This has gone on for long enough.