Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to refer to the issue of enslavement. It was very difficult not to be moved by the television images which emanated from Cleveland yesterday. It must be remembered that some members of the Traveller community were sentenced to many years in jail yesterday in respect of the enslavement of men. I raise this issue in the context of the enslavement of women, however. Certain sources supplied me with figures which indicate that up to 800 women in this State are enslaved and that most of them are working in the sex industry. In view of the fact that it is 2013 and that nothing is being done about this matter, we should all feel ashamed. I was shocked when I learned that 800 women are enslaved in this country. I would like the Minister for Justice and Equality to come before the House so that we might engage in a debate on this matter with him. I am connected to Ruhama and I am aware, from the briefings it has given, that there is a change in the law which could be applied in this instance. That change would involve implementing the Swedish model, which, in effect, reverses the criminality relating to this matter from the selling of to the purchasing of sex. In other words, the purchaser rather than the seller would be criminalised. This model has worked very successfully in Sweden. There has been no coverage of the fact that 800 young women are enslaved in Ireland. That fact is both shameful and shocking. If possible, will the Leader ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come before the House so that we might probe the figures and investigate the matter further. It would be a major boost for the Seanad if legislation relating to reversing the position with regard to criminality in the sex industry could be introduced here.