Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the very full response. I very much welcome the plans of the Department of Justice and Equality to conduct an awareness-raising initiative. It will have a large role to play in supporting the suppression of demand, as sought through the legislation.

I welcome the announcement that the funding for Ruhama was increased in 2017 and in 2018. I note the Minister of State does not refer to any additional resources being provided to the HSE women's health service. I wonder whether resources to that important service will be increased also because the service does a great deal of work in supporting women and others involved in prostitution.

I note the Minister of State's point about the report. Section 27 of the Act states it shall include information on arrests, convictions and the impact of operation. Is it possible, however, that other material might be in the report? Could the Minister of State comment on that? Could he give more detail on the research projects the Department of Justice and Equality will be funding to measure the impact of the new legislation on the welfare of women engaged in prostitution? I would be interested to know the basis on which those resources are being allocated.