BACIK WELCOMES LAW TO CRIMINALISE PURCHASE OF SEX

BACIK WELCOMES LAW TO CRIMINALISE PURCHASE OF SEX

Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the publication by Minister Fitzgerald of the heads of the new Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014. In particular, Senator Bacik welcomed the announcement that Heads 10 and 11 of the Bill will contain provisions to criminalise the purchase of sexual services.

Senator Bacik said:

“I strongly welcome publication of the sex offences bill today, as it will provide important new provisions on strengthening protection for vulnerable witnesses, will strengthen protection for victims and will provide for stronger post-release supervision and monitoring of sex offenders.”

“I particularly welcome the announcement that the purchase of sexual services is to be criminalised in the Bill, which in Head 10 will a create new offence of purchasing sexual services in the context of prostitution. The Labour Party adopted policy in favour of this change in the law some years ago, and the introduction of this change also follows the unanimous recommendation of the Oireachtas Justice Committee in our report on prostitution law published in 2013. Having examined different models for law reform on prostitution, our Committee endorsed the approach used in Swedish law and recommended that a similar approach be taken here; as it has been in other Nordic countries, in Canada and most recently in the Northern Ireland Assembly. I greatly welcome this change in the law and commend Minister Fitzgerald for its introduction."