Conway welcomes Committee recommendations on law banning the purchase of sexual services

Fine Gael Clare Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Disability and Equality, Martin Conway, has today (Thursday) welcomed a new report from the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on the Review of the Legislation on Prostitution in Ireland.

“As a member of the Justice Committee, I am delighted that this report has been published and I commend the Committee Chairman, David Stanton TD, members of the Committee and all those who took part in this process for their invaluable contributions to this report.

“I fully support the recommendation that provision should be made in law to criminalise people who pay for sex through prostitution, so that no offence will be committed by the person whose sexual services are sold.

“The Committee received more than 800 submissions for consideration on this issue, which ensured that all viewpoints were taken into account, and I personally travelled to Sweden with the Committee to examine first-hand how the Swedish Model operates.

“If implemented here, the Swedish Model, which decriminalises the status of those who sell sexual services, would help to protect the vulnerable women and men who sell these services and would help them to seek support from the Gardaí and other services.   This would, I believe, ultimately lead to a reduction in sexual exploitation and demand for sexual services.”

ENDS