lochartaigh has welcomed legislation that would criminalise the purchasers of sex. Speaking during a debate on the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences ) Bill 2015, Senator Ó Clochartaigh said that prostitution is a vicious and brutal criminal enterprise which allows pimps, traffickers and thugs to exploit women and young girls.
“The organised crime at the heart of human trafficking into Ireland has been well documented by the Gardaí and through disturbing media investigations. As a result, we are aware of the work of frontline agencies and have heard the testimony of vulnerable women and girls caught up in this trade,” he said.
“The fact that this debate is taking place is a tribute to the courage of survivors who sacrificed their privacy to relive their ordeals in an effort to make this Bill a reality. Sinn Féin stands shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with these brave women.
“The legislation will restore an all-island approach to these crimes and bring Ireland into line with the North and other EU countries. The sex trade is now only second to drugs in terms of financing those who are behind Irish crime. It is therefore important that we target demand,” he concluded.
