Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 158: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to address the advertising of Irish based prostitution services on the internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28968/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they monitor websites of the kind referred to by the Deputy, particularly as part of Operation Quest, which is aimed particularly at the involvement of organised crime in prostitution.

Section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 created the offence of publishing or distributing an advertisement for a brothel or the services of a prostitute in the State, in terms, circumstances or manner which gives rise to the reasonable inference that the premises is a brothel or the service is one of prostitution. "Advertisement" in this context is defined as including every form of advertising or promotion, including by way of computer monitor, telephone, photography or other like means of communication.

However, I understand that difficulties arise in practice because the websites in question are hosted abroad.

When I launched the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking in June 2009, I emphasised the Government's commitment to protect vulnerable people who may become victims of traffickers and to tackle the crime of human trafficking. The Government has taken strong legislative, administrative and operational measures to combat and prevent trafficking in persons for both sexual and labour exploitation purposes. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 has greatly strengthened the law in this area. A dedicated Anti-Human Trafficking Unit was established in my Department in February, 2008 with the purpose of ensuring that the State's response to human trafficking is co-ordinated and comprehensive. This has led to the production of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

In addition, An Garda Síochána has established a Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit. I am confident that the Force is vigorously pursuing enforcement of the law in this area. The Garda authorities have conducted a number of operations to combat brothel keeping, prostitution and human trafficking and will continue to do so in line with the intelligence available to them.

The law in relation to prostitution is kept under continuing review in my Department.