Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 July 2016
79. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the available research and statistics on the instances and types of prostitution in Ireland and if she will consider undertaking in-depth research on prostitution in Ireland prior to proceeding with Part 4 of the Sexual Offences Bill 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21409/16]
View answerThere is an acknowledged difficulty in accessing comprehensive data in relation to prostitution, not only in Ireland, but in other countries also. This is owing, at least in part, to the covert nature of the activity and the understandable reluctance on the part of individuals to identify themselves as sellers or buyers of sex. Reliable research is also hampered by the involvement of organised crime and other illegal activity around prostitution, in particular where trafficking or sexual exploitation is involved.
Neither is prostitution a uniform activity. Much of the available research looks at specific aspects of the sex industry, for example street prostitution or indoor prostitution in isolation, and data cannot necessarily be extrapolated to provide a reliable view of the industry as a whole.
That said, there are a range of data and research sources available. The Anti-Human Trafficking Division of my Department publishes annual statistics on human trafficking, including persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation, and the Central Statistics Office's quarterly crime statistics provide data on reported offences related to prostitution. Ruhama produces annual statistics on women affected by prostitution and trafficking who avail of their services. There have also been several research reports, both national and international, on various aspects of prostitution which have been published in recent years.
All of this data and research, in addition to a wide range of written and oral submissions, were considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality in preparing its Report on prostitution in 2013. In its Report, the Committee called for the introduction of an offence criminalising the purchase of sexual services. The proposals contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, providing for two new offences of purchasing sexual services, in the context of prostitution, implement that recommendation. The purpose of introducing these provisions is primarily to target the trafficking and sexual exploitation of persons through prostitution.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 completed all stages in Seanad Éireann in January 2016 and was restored to the Dáil order paper on 1 June. While I will continue to consider all evidence and research that becomes available in developing policy in this area, I do not have any plans to commission research on prostitution prior to proceeding with the enactment of this important piece of legislation.
