ANY NEW LAWS introduced around prostitution in Ireland must address the issue of trafficking, a Fine Gael TD has said.
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said that there are a number of ‘shortfalls’ in the law which traffickers are taking advantage of in order to exploit vulnerable women.
She made the comments after Justice Minister Alan Shatter published a major consultation document on Friday evening on whether Ireland’s prostitution laws should be changed.
The business of prostitution has changed ‘immeasurably’ in recent years, the TD said, and Ireland’s legislation needs to change in order to address these changes.
“We regard ourselves as being a fair and humane society which is respectful of human rights, and yet hundreds of women who have been brought to Ireland under false pretenses are working as prostitutes here against their will,” said Corcoran Kennedy.
She said that a large number of women have been trafficked into Ireland from other countries to work as prostitutes.
The discussion document – which can be read in PDF here – will be brought before an Oireachtas committee, when members of the public and any interest groups will be able to offer their input on it.
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