asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Garda Síochána are at present unable to deal with the problem of prostitution adequately; his views on whether the law needs strengthening; if he will make a statement arising out of the dismissal of a case some four years ago in the District Court in Dublin which has been the basis for the uncertainty of the Garda Síochána in prosecuting a number of cases in this respect; if he will comment on a recent incident which took place in Marino, Dublin 3 concerning alleged male and child prostitution; and if any legal action is pending in this respect.
Written Answers. - Prostitution Legislation.
30.
I am aware of the District Court ruling to which the Deputy has referred and that as a result of this and other court decisions prosecutions are no longer being brought under certain legislative provisions traditionally resorted to in dealing with solicitation in public places for the purpose of prostitution. However, other statutory offences are available to deal with the problem and, wherever possible, persons are being charged with these offences.
As I indicated to the Deputy in reply to a parliamentary question on 17 June 1987 (the Official Report, Volume 373, column 2324), examination of the Law Reform Commission's report on vagrancy and related offences, which contains recommendations in respect of most of the major offences concerned with prostitution, is proceeding as quickly as other urgent demands on my Department's resources permit. Any legislative proposals which may arise therefrom will be announced in the normal way.
In regard to the specific incident referred to in the question the position, as I have already indicated in reply to a number of parliamentary questions recently, is that it is not the practice for the Minister for Justice to comment on individual Garda investigations, unless there are exceptional circumstances which require otherwise.