Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

28. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will conclude a review of the existing legislation on prostitution here. [20849/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of the review referred to by the Deputy, in June 2012, I published a discussion document on the future direction of legislation on prostitution. The purpose of the discussion document is to facilitate a public consultation process. On its publication, I referred the discussion document to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. The joint committee is conducting the consultation process independently. There is considerable public interest in this issue. It has been reported that the joint committee has received many hundreds of written submissions. Also, my Department hosted a conference in October to discuss the consultation paper. The joint committee will report back to me when it has completed its work. Its report and the views expressed at the October conference will be fully considered in the framing of any necessary legislative proposals to be submitted to Government in due course.