Katherine Zappone (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House and I also welcome the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Ruhama, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the representatives of unions and others who have also participated in bringing about this Bill. The Bill before us is a huge achievement for the Minister and her Department. As the Minister has indicated, it is lengthy, complex and deals with a number of reforms. It is time for these reforms. Many children, adults, citizens and civil society organisations wanted them long ago. Their advocacy, legal analysis, research and experience from the front line significantly influenced the coming of these reforms. My own view is that many have suffered exploitation or injustice or a demeaning of their dignity in the absence of such reforms and until we enact and commence new law, this will continue to be the case.

I will speak on Part 3 of the Bill and also on a section of the Bill that is still absent - the Minister has referred to this in her speech - an amendment to section 5 of the current 1993 Act that prevents people with intellectual disabilities from having sexual relationships before marriage.

I will begin by addressing changes in the law that the Minister has outlined in Part 3. I welcome these changes to the Irish law. I know that some of my independent colleagues will also speak to this section because, as the Minister is aware, members of our independent group put forward two Private Members' motions in October 2011 and April 2012 calling on the Government to develop legislation to criminalise the purchase of sex in order to curb prostitution and trafficking.Indeed it was these motions that prompted Deputy Alan Shatter, the former Minister for Justice and Equality, to direct the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality to conduct a public consultation on the matter, out of which the recommendations for the Bill before us came. When the reform of our prostitution laws came before the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality the committee's recommendations were the result of an extensive consultation process and are cross-party and independent recommendations. I acknowledge the great leadership shown, and still being shown, by Senator Bacik in this matter.

In addition to the consultation, a number of Members visited Sweden to be informed by the experience there and we learned that it was necessary to engage directly with various organisations and individuals regarding the impact of the 1999 legislation enacted to prohibit the purchase of sexual services.

I wish to put on record my conclusions from that evidence-gathering visit.