Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 September 2014
283. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding new legislation to deal with prostitution and sex trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35257/14]
View answer291. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation to deal with Ireland's prostitution laws on foot of last year's Oireachtas committee's report in this area. [35314/14]
View answer318. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for legislation on prostitution following the publication of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality report on prostitution here. [35612/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283, 291 and 318 together.
I am examining the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Justice Defence and Equality, the advices of the Attorney General and the views of the Minister for Health regarding a new approach to prostitution legislation.
Prostitution raises a wide spectrum of issues and when I have had the opportunity to complete consideration of those issues, proposals will be brought to Government in the usual manner.
I would also mention that Ireland already has an extensive legislative framework prohibiting the trafficking of persons for the purposes of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) with stringent 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.
