Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

551. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality's deliberations into trafficking of persons for prostitution and sexual exploitation; her plans to bring forward legislation on the matter; and when she expects legislation to be brought forward. [42212/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, there is an ongoing debate as to the approach to be adopted in tackling the exploitation associated with prostitution. There are a wide range of issues involved which require consideration and any proposals will be brought to Government in the usual way.

In terms of the trafficking of persons for prostitution and sexual exploitation, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the existing legislative provisions addressing the trafficking of persons for the purposes of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) which can attract significant penalties. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 prohibits trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Any person found guilty of such an offence shall be liable to imprisonment for life or a lesser term, and at the discretion of the court, to a fine. It is also an offence for a person to solicit or importune a trafficked person for the purposes of prostitution with a potential penalty of imprisonment for up to 5 years and / or a fine.

There are also provisions in our criminal law directed at the public nuisances and exploitation associated with prostitution. Solicitation, by both the client and the prostitute, living on the earnings of prostitution, organising prostitution and running a brothel are all offences under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993.