Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes there are. There is a very detailed report from the Council of Europe and the European Parliament on this issue.However, even to leave aside this unquestionable objective, there is undoubtedly evidence of a wider exploitation of persons involved in prostitution outside of those trafficked, such as those coerced or otherwise forced through circumstances to engage in the activity. The most direct way of combatting this form of exploitation is to send the message to those who pay for these services and who ignore the exploitation of women and men involved, that their behaviour is unacceptable and that it supports the exploitation of other people. There are many aspects to the debate on these provisions which I expect will be raised here today and during the passage of this Bill. These include issues regarding the impact of them on the safety, health and well-being who work in prostitution; concerns that these changes will drive prostitution further underground; and arguments that women and men can freely and voluntarily provide these services without experiencing the exploitation which I believe is widely and normally associated with prostitution. In deciding to put forward these proposal I have listened to all sides of the debate and I am convinced that to target the exploitation associated with prostitution requires targeting those who demand those services. I look forward to hearing and discussing all of these issues with the Members of the House and in further debates on the Bill.

In recognising the exploitation associated with prostitution I would like to inform the Senators that I will bring forward amendments in this House which will further decriminalise the women and men involved in prostitution by removing from the existing offences of solicitation and loitering for the purposes of prostitution those who offer sexual services. I thank Members of this House, many of whom have contributed to the content of this Bill, through their work both inside and outside the House. I also thank the victims’ support groups and community groups who have contributed to the development of this Bill over a long number of years, who have made very thoughtful submissions and clarified their points of view, particularly in working with the justice committee.

I believe this Bill is overall a reflection on the advances in technology, research, experience and debate. Regardless of the focus of the debate today, or later inside this House or outside it, let us not forget the primary purpose of the Bill, which is to substantially strengthen our law, to target our most vulnerable - our children - and to send a message to all victims of sexual offences that we recognise the unfathomable harm and trauma inflicted upon them and that we support them.