Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the recorded number of arrests under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 during its operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26020/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 provides for two new offences of paying for sexual activity with a prostitute and paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person. The Act also removes those who offer their services as a prostitute from the existing offences of soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

One purpose of these measures is to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution and to allow them to make reports to the Gardaí, for instance where they have been subjected to violence by clients, without fear or concern of being prosecuted for selling sexual services.

In July 2020 my Department contracted an independent expert to undertake the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences).

As part of the review, an online public consultation was opened and contributions were received from a broad range of organisations with different perspectives. The review will consider all aspects outlined in the Terms of Reference.

While the review is independent of the Department, the expert has advised that she expects to be in a position to present the outcome of the review shortly.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 19 May 2022 for charges and summons associated with the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 or a section of another act which was amended or substituted by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

The number of Charges/Summons by year in the period 2017 to 19 of May 2022 is shown in the table below.  

*Up to 19 May 2022

Please note that the response refers to persons arrested and charged with an offence as an arrest record would not refer to specific legislation but a charge record would.

I am further advised that Incident data is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available at 01:00 on 19/05/2022 and is liable to change.