Tá fáilte romhat, a Aire Stáit. This is the second bite of the cherry for Senator Maria Byrne and she has four minutes.
Commencement Matters
Swimming Pool Programme Funding
I welcome the Minister of State to House. I know that in the past he was unable to attend here due to work reasons and I thank him very much for coming here this morning.
I rise today to raise the issue of the 50 m swimming pool in the University of Limerick and the fact that the Munster swimming team has no place to practice at the moment. The team is being disenfranchised when compared with the Connacht, Ulster and Leinster teams. The Leinster team practices at the National Aquatic Centre and the other teams have access to 50 m pools. In fact, there are only two other 50 m pools in the country, one is located at UCD and the other is located at the National Aquatic Centre.
The pool at the University of Limerick caters to the Munster swimming squad. I know one small part of the pool is missing but other parts must be replaced in order to solve the original problem. There is also quite a cost involved to replace the missing part. It is all about moving the floor. Unfortunately, no competitions could be held in the pool since around October and no repairs have happened to date. I ask the Minister of State to release funding and to take the case on board. A number of teams covering all ages have been disenfranchised by the closure. Recently the Munster national swimming competition had to be cancelled because the pool was not in working order.
I again thank the Minister of State for coming here and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.
I thank Senator Byrne for raising this matter.
As she is aware, the swimming pool programme, as administered by my Department, provides grant aid towards the capital costs of new public swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing public swimming pools. The programme provides for a maximum grant aid of €3.8 million per project.
Four principal stages must be undertaken to develop a swimming pool project. They are as follows: A preliminary report, including a feasibility study; contract documents; tender stage; and, finally, construction stage. The Department's technical adviser evaluates each stage. Projects may not proceed to the next stage until prior approval has been issued by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
I understand that the 50 m pool at the University of Limerick was opened in January 2002 with the majority of funding being provided by the then Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The facility included a pool boom that allows the swimming pool to be segregated into different sizes thus allowing it to be used in multiple formats at the same time.
Swim Ireland has a pool usage agreement with the UL Sport Arena. The agreement gives access to the pool for training and competition. The agency established a full-time performance centre at the facility that ensures swimmers receive 50 m pool access, specialist coaching, gym access and additional support services to help them reach their sporting potential.
I am aware that Swim Ireland first started to highlight the need to upgrade the pool boom some years ago. In 2015, the facility was inspected by engineers who agreed that the best overall solution was to replace the existing boom with a new one. Accordingly, in 2016, UL wrote to Sport Ireland and my Department seeking assistance towards the replacement cost of the boom. Swim Ireland supported the request. It highlighted the fact that the lack of a boom was having an impact on training and competition opportunities for swimmers in the region. The request was considered within my Department. Earlier this year my predecessor, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O’Donovan, and the Minister approved a once-off allocation towards the cost of the replacement of the moveable boom in UL's swimming pool. The necessary administrative work has continued in the interim.
Last month, my Department gave approval to UL to proceed to seek tenders for the replacement boom. I understand that it is hoped to have the necessary work completed next year during the summer academic recess thus allowing the continued use of the facility for high-performance swimming and competition.
The sport sector is recognised as having positive social, cultural and health benefits for individuals and broader society. It is an integral part of Government policy to provide funding for such infrastructure.
I will check if that timeline can be moved forward, particularly, as the Senator outlined, in light of the impact the lack of a pool boom is having on the facility, on competition, on performance and on activity in the area. I will check if anything can be done with in terms of the timeline.
I thank the Minister of State for looking into the matter and coming back with a response. I would appreciate it if he can discover whether the timeline can be moved forward. Children of all ages, from the young to the not so young, have been disenfranchised as a result of the delay. The Department sanctioned the funding. That probably happened around the same time that I originally submitted this Commencement matter because I have heard from a number of the swimmers. However, the problem was, perhaps, that there was silence about it and none of the people involved on the swimming side were informed about what was happening.
Defective Building Materials
Fáilte. I welcome the Minister of State. My request is simple in many ways. I ask that the local property tax, LPT, exemption that exists in Leinster in respect of homes affected by pyrite be extended to cover homes in Mayo that are similarly affected and those in Donegal affected by problems with mica. An expert report on concrete blockwork in homes in Mayo and Donegal was published in June. This was commissioned by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This is the first official recognition that there is a serious problem with the deterioration of blockwork in houses in Mayo and Donegal such that it can cause major structural problems and even structural collapse of houses in due course. This is a serious problem. When the report was issued, realisation dawned on many people about the seriousness of the problem of having pyrite or mica in homes, the devastation that both can cause to properties and the cost involved in respect of remedial work.
The report estimates that approximately 345 private houses and 17 social houses in Mayo are affected. The estimate for Donegal is that between 1,200 and 4,000 properties are affected by mica. I think many more houses in Mayo are affected because even since the publication of the report, I have had people approached me about this matter. I also believe there is a significant problem with commercial properties. This problem is widespread and we need to get to the bottom of it. The property tax exemption that obtains in Leinster in respect of houses affected by pyrite is designed to give tax relief to people whose houses have pyrite-heave - an issue relating to pyrite in foundations. The problem with pyrite in Mayo and mica in Donegal relates to the blockwork. It is described differently. The redress board that deals with the owners of houses with pyrite problems in Leinster does not cover those affected in Mayo because a different type of pyrite issue occurs and different remedial works are required. It is only right that the exemption in question be extended to the affected home owners in Mayo and Donegal. These houses are probably worth nothing at the moment other than for the site value. Who would buy a site affected by pyrite or mica? People cannot do anything with their houses right now, which is a massive headache.
I ask that common sense prevail. There is official recognition of the problem on the part of the State by virtue of the report. Can we now have what, to me, should logically follow, namely, an exemption? Will provision be made for this in the Finance Bill, by means of regulation or in whatever way the Minister of State and Minister for Finance see fit? The issue of a redress scheme relates to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. Money is required in order that people might be given financial assistance to enable them to fix their houses. Such assistance has already been provided in Dublin. How are the negotiations between the Departments going? When might there be an answer to my request, which I have made on a couple of occasions, to have a redress scheme set up? It would be nice, going into Christmas, if we could give people some positive news because it is a depressing vista for those affected by this serious problem.
I have heard the Senator discuss the issue relating to mica in homes in Mayo and Donegal on numerous occasions. I know she is determined to have something done about it. I acknowledge the stressful situation individuals can face when building defects manifest themselves after completion of construction and the significant impact this can have on those affected.
There is an LPT exemption which is intended to apply to those properties that have a significant level of pyrite damage. The qualifying criteria for this LPT exemption were modified by the Finance Act 2015. The changes made were significant. Where a property has been included in the pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board, PRB, without testing, or a property has been remedied by a guarantee company or by a builder or developer or where a party is compensated in lieu of remediation, without testing, Revenue will now accept confirmation of remediation or compensation from either the PRB or the relevant party for the purposes of LPT exemption without testing or National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, certification.
The mica issue has been examined by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. I am informed that an expert panel on concrete blocks was established by that Department in 2016 to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of some dwellings in counties Donegal and Mayo. I will not read the terms of reference because I am sure the Senator is aware of them. I understand that the report of the expert panel, which includes eight recommendations, was published in June. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has already taken action to implement recommendations 1 and 2 as a matter of priority. On recommendation 1, the NSAI technical committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings in recent weeks. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action regarding remedial works for all affected properties. In the context of recommendation 2, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has been in contact with Engineers Ireland about the establishment of a register of competent engineers for home owners' and affected parties' reference. Engineers Ireland has provided assurance that it will collaborate with the Department and the NSAI on measures to establish such a register.
I understand that the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy English, visited Donegal and Mayo during the summer and met with key stakeholders, including affected home owners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. In light of the information contained in the report, the Minister of State, Deputy English, is considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo. The legislation governing the administration of LPT provides for a limited number of exemptions from LPT. There is no specific exemption for properties affected by mica and there are no plans to do so at the moment.
LPT operates on a self-assessment basis and it is a matter for the property owner in the first instance to calculate the tax due based on his or her assessment of the market value of the property. When making an assessment, issues such as the presence of pyrite or mica would be one of the factors that a property owner should take into account in valuing their property. On that basis, where a property was affected with pyrite on the LPT valuation date of 1 May 2013, it can be reflected in the selected valuation band. This can be done retrospectively if the presence of pyrite was not taken into account in the 1 May 2013 valuation.
On the specific question the Senator put to me, the Finance Bill 2017 is at a very advanced stage. As the Senator is aware, Report Stage is due to be concluded today. I doubt anything can be done in this year's Finance Bill as we are coming to the end of the process of passing it. We expect Report Stage to be concluded today and I assume the Bill will come to the Seanad next week. It is a matter for Members of this House to present amendments or considerations as they see fit. I will discuss the matter with the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. I know he is aware of it. As the Senator knows, I am certainly not someone to ignore the impact this issue would have on people. I will discuss it with the Minister. I do not have knowledge of the interactions with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government but, again, I will speak with the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, and I will try to get back to the Senator with an updated position.
I thank the Minister of State. I know that he has answered as best he can. The reality is that I have been in contact with the Revenue Commissioners in respect of two distinct occurrences of pyrite, one in the foundation and another in the blockwork. I have been told that the exemption as described in the legislation does not cover blockwork. The reply the Minister of State has given to me does not seem to allude to that distinction. What am I to tell the home owners, based on the Minister of State's response? It is disappointing that it does not speak to the distinction and the problems in Mayo and Donegal. Will the Minister of State contact the home owners and revert to me? We need to give clarity to the public affected by Revenue policy on this issue. Revenue needs to establish what needs to be done. There is the Finance Bill, an amendment to it and regulations, so it is obviously a complex issue of legislative drafting. People need to know where they stand.
I will contact Revenue and try to get clarification on the matter. I do not like ambiguity or positions being unclear. The note I have says one thing but the Senator is telling me something contrary to it. I will contact Revenue directly and I will have officials try to conclude the matter in order to determine the correct position.
Exploration Licences
Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá mé ag ardú ceiste a bhaineann leis an taiscéalaíocht agus an mianadóireacht atá pleanáilte i gCarna i gContae na Gaillimhe, maidir leis an obair atá déanta go dáta, na torthaí a fuarthas, agus na hoibreacha breise atá beartaithe. An bhfuil imní ar Roinn an Aire Stáit maidir leis na himpleachtaí diúltacha comhshaoil atá, nó a d'fhéadfadh a bheith, ag na gníomhaíochataí seo? Mar atá fhios ag an Aire Stáit, tá taiscéalaíocht ar bun maidir le mianadóireacht i gceantar an Mhása i gCarna le tamall anuas. Sa tír i gcoitinne, tá suas le 600 ceadúnas eisithe faoi láthair ó thaobh taiscéalaíochta de. Baineann an ceann acu atá i gceist anseo le MOAG Copper-Gold Resources. Tugann sé cead dó dul ag cuardach airgid agus miotail eile i gceantar an Mhása i gCarna i gContae na Gaillimhe agus i gceantar a shíneann ar feadh 45 km uaidh sin. Tá stráice mór talún i gceist ansin ina bhféadfadh an comhlacht bheith ag druileáil.
De réir tuairiscí nuachta a bhfuair muid ag tús na bliana, is léir go bhfuair an comhlacht roinnt mianraí sa láthair sin. Is cosúil gurb é molybdenum an mianra is mó a tháinig chun cinn. Ní fear mór eolaíochta mé ach, de réir mar a thuigim, is miotal faoi leith é seo a úsáidtear i dtionscail éagsúla, an tionscal cruach san áireamh, agus tá leáphointe an-ard aige. Deireann an tuarisc go raibh an oiread molybdenum ar an láthair áirithe sin gur bhfiú don chomhlacht dul ar aghaidh agus mianadóireacht ar scála níos mó a dhéanamh agus go bhféadfadh go mbeidh buntáiste mór ag an gcomhlacht as.
An fáth a bhfuil mé ag cur na ceiste sin ná go bhfuil roinnt daoine sa cheantar ag clámhsan maidir leis an méid oibre atá déanta go dtí seo ó thaobh tástála agus druileála de. Chuir sé as do roinnt tithe sa cheantar ó thaobh torainn, feithiclí agus mar sin de. Tá daoine ag iarraidh fáil amach cá bhfuil muid ag dul ina dhiadh seo. An bhfuil iarratas déanta ag an gcomhlacht ar cheadúnas níos leithne? An bhfuil sé ag caint leis an Roinn faoi sin? Má tá sé ag caint leis an Roinn faoi mhianadóireacht bhreise, céard iad na himpleachtaí comhshaoil don cheantar? Céard a bheadh i gceist leis seo? Cé chomh mór agus a d'fhéadfadh an mianach seo a bheith? Cén cúlra atá ag an gcomhlacht MOAG? An raibh aon deacrachtaí leis in aon áit eile ar an domhan seo?
Ar cheist níos leithne, agus is ceist a d'ardaigh muid ó thaobh acmhainní nadúrtha na tíre seo, braitheann muid nach bhfuil an Stát ag fáil buntáiste sách mór as na hacmhainní nadúrtha - ola agus gás ach go háirithe. Braitheann muid go bhfuil na ceadúnais i bhfad ró-mhaith do na comhlachtaí atá i gceist. Ó thaobh chúrsaí chomhshaoil, an raibh fadhb go dtí seo leis na ceadúnais agus an méid oibre atá déanta? Má tá sé i gceist ceadúnas níos mó a thabhairt le haghaidh mianadóireacht a dhéanamh, cén cosaint a chuirfear ann ó thaobh an chomhshaoil de?
Cén buntáiste a bheidh ag an Stát as an obair seo? Maidir le cúrsaí aschuir agus an méid airgid atá sa tionscal seo, in 2012 bhí turnover, mar a déarfaí i mBéarla, de €426 milliún ann agus tá riar mhaith daoine fostaithe ar an tionscal, ach tá ráta cánach chorparáide de 25% do na mianaigh agus ráta de 12.5% ar an teacht isteach. Is dóigh go mbreathnaíonn sé sin mór ach, a oiread leis an tionscal gáis agus ola, is féidir write-off a dhéanamh ar chuid mhaith den chaiteachas a bhí ann ó thaobh an chuardaigh do na mianraí seo. Tá allúntas caiptil ar fáil ó thaobh na taiscéalaíochta, costais forbartha, costais innealra, costais foirgneamh agus mar sin de. Is féidir 100% de sin a fháil ar ais. Is féidir write-off a dhéanamh ar na costais a bhaineann leis an bhforbairt ar fad agus ar dhúnadh mianach ina dhiadh sin. Cé go mbreathnaíonn sé go bhféadfadh sé go mbeidh buntáiste mór ag an Stát, tá ceist ann faoi sin. Bheadh mé ag súil le soiléiriú ón Aire Stáit ar chuid de na ceisteanna seo.
I dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an cheadúnas sirtheoireachta don chomhlacht MOAG ó Cheanada a phlé. Tá ceadúnas sirtheoireachta i lámh MOAG do cheantar PL 934, atá lonnaithe i gCarna, Conamara. Tá oifig agus áit stórála faighte ag MOAG ar léas ó Údarás na Gaeltachta i gCarna. Tá triúr ón cheantar fostaithe go páirt-aimseartha. Is iad na dualgais atá orthu ná déileáil le cúrsaí taistil agus bainistíochta, agus cabhrú chun na samplaí cloch a fháil. Ba mhaith liom a chinntiú do gach duine, agus go háirithe pobal iar-Chonamara, go bhfuil iniúchadh ar an eastóscadh mianraigh molybdenum seo á dhéanamh ag an chaighdeán is airde agus is géire. Is é meas don chomhshaol an príomhthosaíocht. Tá sé tábhachtach, sular tosaíonn comhlacht ar bith ag mianadóireacht ar mhianraí, go gcaithfidh sé cead pleanála a fháil ón údarás áitiúil agus ceadúnas truaillithe a fháil ón EPA. Ní mór measúnacht tionchair timpeallachta a dhéanamh freisin.
Ina theannta sin, ní féidir mianadóireacht a dhéanamh gan áis mianadóireachta Stáit ón Aire. Tá ráiteas i mBéarla agam anseo ón Roinn. Tá sé faighte ag an Seanadóir ansin.
There are approximately 600 active minerals prospecting licences in lreland. Prospecting licence PL 934 was granted in 2005 and renewed in 2012 by the Minister in the then Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The licence is due for renewal at the end of this year. The licence gives the licence holder, MOAG Copper Gold Resources Inc., the right to explore for silver and base metals in Mace Head, Carna, County Galway. This prospecting licence area covers an area of approximately 45 sq. km.
It is my understanding that exploration is being managed on behalf of MOAG by SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd., a consulting firm based in Dublin with extensive mineral exploration experience. I also understand that landowner and community liaison has continued throughout the exploration programme and that the project has generated employment locally. In this regard, three local people have been employed on a part-time basis at the core storage facility located in Carna to assist in sampling, transport and core management. Additionally, local contractors have been used for transporting the core samples, all samples have been analysed at ALS Global Laboratories in Loughrea, County Galway, and drilling has been carried out by Irish Drilling Limited, which is also based in Loughrea.
The Mace molybdenite-copper deposit currently being explored was initially identified in the late 1960s by mapping, geochemistry, geophysics and shallow drilling. It is my understanding that MOAG has sought to build on the early work mainly by carrying out additional structural geological mapping and surveying. Following the grant of drilling permission by the exploration and mining division of my Department, a follow-up six-hole drill programme began in 2014. The results of that programme were extremely encouraging. A more comprehensive drill programme was undertaken in 2015. This drilling programme confirmed the existence of the mineralisation. However, further exploration and evaluation of the information collected is required.
Under the terms and conditions of the prospecting licence, my Department is required to keep all information confidential for six years from the submission of the data. However, I understand that MOAG has made the results of the drilling programme from 2015, and additional information, available on its website at wwwmoag.ca.en. My understanding is that the results of the exploration programme which has been carried out are still being evaluated by the company.
As mentioned, the prospecting licence PL 934 is due to expire at the end of this year and, based on current information, it is expected that the company will apply for it to be renewed. As part of this process, the company will be required to submit an exploration programme which will be screened by the exploration and mining division of my Department to ensure that there are no significant effects on the environment. In respect of environmental matters, I emphasise that, prior to deciding to grant any prospecting licence, officials in the exploration and mining division screen the proposed prospecting activities submitted in relation to the prospecting licence area and make a determination as to whether the activities may have a significant effect on the environment. This is done in compliance with relevant European directives and regulations. It is a condition of the grant of a prospecting licence that, in the event that the relevant prospecting area contains or is in close proximity to an SAC or SPA, before any exploration activity can take place the company is required to seek the prior permission of the exploration and mining division. Such permission is only granted once further screening for significant environmental effects specific to the objectives of the SAC or SPA is undertaken. This further screening is undertaken in compliance with the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, SI 477 of 2011. If drilling is proposed for anywhere within a prospecting licence area, a separate prior permission must be obtained from the exploration and mining division, which undertakes further screening for significant effects to the environment before such permission is granted.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Táim buíoch as an bhfreagra sin. There are a number of questions I could ask but I will come back to them on another day. The Minister of State said, "As part of this process, the company will be required to submit an exploration programme which will be screened by the exploration and mining division of my Department to ensure that there are no significant effects on the environment." Has this been submitted? Is it available for public view? If not, can the Minister make it available? Were any specific environmental issues raised as part of the report?
It has not come across my desk yet. I will get back to the Senator on whether it has been received and whether it can be published. Where we can, we put information on natural resources up on the relevant section of the Department's website. If it is available, we will send a copy to the Senator. It is at the prospecting licence stage at the moment and if it is to go to the next stage, a full planning permission application will have to be submitted to Galway County Council. The next steps from there would be public consultation, possible appeals to An Bord Pleanála, etc. It is at an early stage but it follows on from work done in the 1960s. It is right and proper that the community be kept informed of any necessary work. I will get an update for the Senator on whether an application has been received by the Department.
Criminal Prosecutions Data
I am pleased the Minister of State is present to deal with this question, given his long-standing commitment to the issue of prostitution law reform. It was a pleasure to work with him on the justice committee on the important reform we introduced in 2017 to change our focus as regards prostitution and to criminalise or the purchaser. The question I am asking relates to the previous law. I am asking the Minister to provide statistics on the number of prosecutions and convictions for prostitution-related offences on an annualised basis from 2013 to 2016, inclusive.
I have a long-standing interest in this, both from an academic point of view and as a legislator, and we brought in an important and positive reform in 2017 but I am keen to complete the statistical picture of the way prostitution offences were prosecuted under the 1993 law, which the justice committee found to be flawed and in need of reform when we reported on this in 2013. The report, which paved the way for the 2017 Act, provided a snapshot of prostitution-related offences and of prosecutions and convictions for prostitution offences in 2012. In the previous year, the Department of Justice and Equality had produced a discussion document with a table of CSO-derived statistics on recorded prostitution offences from 2004 to 2011. I am asking the Minister of State to complete the picture by bringing us up to date with details of offences between 2013 and 2016. I have contacted the CSO and I am very grateful to it for its help. It took over the statistical recording of crime in 2005 and it is doing a very important and meticulous job, but it has only been able to send me statistics up to 2014.
I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who, unfortunately, cannot be here this morning. I thank Senator Bacik for highlighting this issue and for her work on this matter over many years, which I know she will continue to do.
The statistics sought by the Senator in this Commencement matter were compiled by the Central Statistics Office, which is responsible for the publication of the official recorded crime statistics. In this context, I assure the Senator that An Garda Síochána continues to monitor all new and emerging crime trends on an ongoing basis, including those related to prostitution offences, so that optimum use is made of Garda resources and help is provided to tackle this form of crime. First, I take this opportunity to explain that there are two sets of statistics provided with this text, of which Members should all have received a copy. The information provided in the first table by the CSO refers to incidents of prostitution. These are situations where An Garda Síochána has made an arrest under one of the headings set out below. Figures relating to prosecutions and convictions for prostitution-related offences have been provided by the Courts Service and are also appended to the text. The Minister hopes that the Senator finds these statistics useful.
Senator Bacik will be aware that the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 was enacted on 22 February 2017 and I take this opportunity to remind the House of the provisions of that Act as they relate to prostitution-related offences.
Part 4 of the Act provides for two new offences of purchasing sexual services in the context of prostitution. The purpose of these offences is to target the demand for prostitution. This part also removes those who provide sexual services through prostitution from the existing offences of soliciting and loitering for the purpose of prostitution. Part 4 of the Act was commenced on 28 March 2017.
The Act itself, and the provisions referred to in particular, recognise the exploitation experienced by those involved in prostitution and decriminalises them. Its enactment marked the culmination of a long campaign aimed at tackling the abuse and exploitation which is so widely associated with prostitution. The Minister and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the big role of Senator Bacik in that campaign, and all members of the House who recognise the vulnerability to exploitation and abuse of those involved in prostitution.
The new offences under the Act are a general offence of paying to engage in sexual activity with a prostitute, which carries a penalty of a fine of up to €500 for a first offence and fines of up to €1,000 for a second or subsequent offence, and the more serious offence of paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person in the context of prostitution, an offence which carries a potential penalty of up to five years imprisonment and-or a fine. In both cases, the person selling or, in the case of a trafficked or exploited person, being forced to sell the sexual service will not commit an offence.
Section 27 of Part 4 requires a report after three years on the number of arrests during that period in respect of the new offences as well as an assessment of the impact of the offences on those who provide sexual services for payment. The Minister believes that three years is the minimum period in which systems and practices can be effectively bedded down and operated so that reliable conclusions can be drawn from the information gathered for the review. That report, of course, relates to the effect of legislation from the date of its commencement on 27 March 2017, and as such is not of immediate relevance to the matter before the House but will be an important milestone in terms of measuring the effectiveness of a new approach to dealing with prostitution and the exploitation linked to it. The two tables provide the information sought by the Senator and there is no need for me to go through the figures as they speak for themselves.
I thank the Minister of State for the information he has provided and for the tables of data which I will go through with great interest. I also thank him for his kind comments. I note, as the Minister of State said, this is an ongoing issue and I thank him in particular for speaking in a little more detail about the requirement in the 2017 Act for a report after a three year period on the number of arrests during the period in respect of the new offences and an assessment of the impact of the offences. I look forward to that report, and I certainly look forward to working with the Minister of State in the interim to ensure the Act is working well and is effectively tackling the demand for prostitution, which was our aim in putting forward the legislation. I should have said one of the most important aspects of the reform, which the Minister of State rightly pointed out, is not only that it has criminalised the purchase of sexual services but, of course, that it has decriminalised those engaged in selling sexual services. It is explicitly, therefore, recognising the exploitation experienced by those engaged in prostitution. That, of course, was a hugely important part of our report and of the legislation. I thank the Minister of State for this and I look forward to working with him.
I thank the Senator for her contribution and I will be sure to pass on her comments to the Minister. Returning to Part 4 of the Act, and specifically section 27, I must advise the House the exact nature of the report mandated under the new Act has yet to be decided. Related to this, I am aware that officials in the Department of Justice and Equality have been engaged in discussions as part of a civil society-led working group to support the implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, together with other stakeholders including representatives of An Garda Síochána and the HSE.
At the weekend, I was in Brussels and I had an informal engagement where I was informed on what is happening in France in this regard. I want to draw the Senator's attention to this because it has enacted legislation in this regard which has been quite successful, but it has a slightly nuanced approach to it and I was quite interested to learn about it. I might speak to the Senator about it at another time.
Sitting suspended at 11.15 a.m. until 11.30 a.m.