Thomas Pringle TD has welcomed the findings of the report on prostitution by the Oireachtas Justice, Defence and Equality Committee, describing it as a “positive step towards the criminalisation of the purchasers of sexual services.”
The Independent TD said it is a welcome development that the Justice Committee has accepted much of the recommendations in relation to the findings of Swedish legislation in terms of cutting demand by criminalising the purchaser of sexual services and not the person selling such services, and the testimonies that were heard by the committee in that regard.
“For the last year submissions were received in relation to this issue and hearings were held earlier this year which heard a broad range of views on the matter.
“Last May my Bill on the criminalisation of sexual services was debated in the Dáil which gave way to renewed discussion on the subject, and less than two months later the Justice Committee published these recommendations in line with the Swedish Model.
“The recommendations of this report are a validation of the need to shift the focus of the law from those who are vulnerable and exploited in prostitution towards the sex buyers, and I am heartened that this firm standpoint will be brought directly to the Minister for Justice.
“However, it is important now more than ever that we continue to move forward in terms of developing legislation in line with these recommendations and in this regard it is vital that Minister Shatter proceeds on foot of this report without delay,” stated Pringle.
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