Bacik Welcomes Government Commitment on Prostitution Law
13 October 2011
BACIK WELCOMES GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT ON PROSTITUTION LAW
Senator Ivana Bacik, Labour Senator for Dublin University,
Thursday 13th October 2011
Speaking today in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik welcome the commitment given by Minister Kathleen Lynch in the Seanad on Wed 12th October during private members' business, that the Government would take six months to review the introduction of legislation to criminalise the purchase of sex.
Speaking today, Senator Bacik said:
“Last night in the Seanad we had private members business put forward by the Taoiseach's nominees, on the topic of criminalising the purchase of sex. I welcome the fact that, during the debate, Minister Kathleen Lynch gave a commitment that the Government would spend the next six months engaged in public consultation on the introduction of prostitution legislation similar to that introduced in Sweden and Norway.
“Since the introduction in Sweden of legislation in 1999 criminalising those who purchase sex, street prostitution in that country has been halved; and Norway has now followed the Swedish example and passed similar legislation. The Turn off the Red Light campaign here in Ireland, to which the Labour Party is affiliated, has been seeking the introduction of similar legislation here. I am really delighted that Minister Lynch has now given us a commitment with a specific timeframe for considering the introduction of this legislation.”
ENDS