Departmental Reports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022

Tuesday, 5 July 2022

Ceisteanna (524)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

524. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will publish the report of independent research conducted by an organisation (details supplied) and the University of Limerick which were awarded funding from the dormant accounts fund of the anti-human trafficking unit in her Department in 2018 to investigate the way that sex workers have been impacted by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 given that the report was due to be published in 2020 but has yet to be published; and her views on the report. [35817/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

In September 2018, my Department announced a call for projects under funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Proposals were invited for funding applications to research and assess the safety and well-being of persons who engage in sexual activity for payment.

One project which succeeded in obtaining dormant accounts funding was the organisation mentioned by the Deputy, which is a charity based in Limerick City, in collaboration with the University of Limerick. The project explored the current levels of awareness and “know-how” about the legislation that criminalises the purchase of sex among survival sex workers and it was completed in May 2020.

A decision on publication of the findings is for the organisation itself, rather than for my Department. However, it is being taken into account by policy makers in my Department and has  been taken into account by the independent expert commissioned to review Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act.