Shake-up expected in prostitution legislation

THE Justice Committee is expected to recommend the criminalisation of those who obtain the services of prostitutes, as well as those who access websites to obtain the details of prostitutes.

 

The Oireachtas committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is due to release its recommendations following a review it carried out into prostitution legislation at a briefing in Leinster House on Thursday.

The Clare Champion understands the report will recommend the criminalisation of those who obtain the services of prostitutes, as well as criminalising requesting the services of a prostitute.

It is likely the report will also recommend treating the use of websites to access prostitution services in much the same way as those who access child pornography sites.

The recommendations are expected to support a Swedish approach to prostitution legislation and the report is to be presented to the Minister for Justice for his consideration following its release on Thursday.

Clare Senator Martin Conway, who sits on the committee, spoke out about prostitution in Clare, describing it as “a serious problem”. In an interview with The Clare Champion, he contended the users of prostitutes should be criminalised.

Speaking about the issue, Senator Conway said, “I have always contended that prostitution is a serious problem in this country that transcends all counties. I have long been an advocate of the criminalisation of the users of prostitutes, who at the moment can get off scot-free. The only guilty person at present is the prostitute herself. These people, in my view are the victims and the people who use prostitutes are the real criminals.”

In a special report by The Clare Champion, it emerged that up to 10 prostitutes were operating from various locations in the county in a given week, offering their services through a website.

Senator Conway expressed strong views at the time about the use of the internet and mobile phone technology, which he said “has made it very easy to procure the services of a prostitute” and had sought measures to be put in place to deal with this.

The recommendations will be considered by Minister Alan Shatter as to whether he wishes them to form the heads of a new bill or not.