Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Government's amendment. Our amendments were trying to achieve the same end. There has been a very long campaign to ensure we could decriminalise those who sell sexual services and I commend the people in the Gallery, who have been campaigning on this for a very long time. The Turn Off the Red Light campaign has been very effective and very important because it has long been the case that many women have found themselves in the position of being turned into criminals in situations where they have been virtually powerless. In light of the Government amendment, which obviously crossed with us tabling amendments, we will not be pressing our amendments. We are achieving the same aim and I welcome the statement of the Minister of State on this.