Cabinet approval secured to publish review of legislation that made it illegal to purchase sex but legal to sell sex.
Review highlights challenges facing An Garda Síochána and DPP in enforcing this legislation.
Cabinet approval has been secured to publish a review of the legislation that deals with the purchase of sexual services.
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 decriminalised the sale of sex, criminalised the purchase of sex, and increased the penalty provided for brothel keeping. The legislation was designed to shift the legal burden towards those who buy sex rather than the sellers, aiming to protect those most at risk within the sex industry.
The Review of the Operation of Section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993, identifies areas for improvement which would allow the legislation to work better and achieve its aim of deterring the demand for commercial sex, which is linked to both sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Here in Ireland, it is legal to sell sex, but illegal to purchase sex. This means that individuals involved in the sale of sex are no longer criminalised. Prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls, and many people are forced into prostitution, through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty.
This Review has been much anticipated by stakeholders in the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) sector and others, and is published today.
Among its findings, this review highlights challenges to the effective enforcement of the legislation in its current form, with An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions noting significant barriers. These include limited power of arrest for detention and questioning, the requirement of an admission of guilt and challenges in prosecution, due to the necessary ‘proofs’ required.
It also finds that the ability to successfully support and protect is hindered by a lack of culturally appropriate support services, including healthcare, social welfare, gender specific housing for women, and clear exit routes.
This review also notes that the prevalence of human trafficking among those involved in the sale of sex in Ireland is not fully known and the lack of reliable data is cited by both advocates for and opponents of section 7A.
The key focus on this issue is to seek to reduce demand, protect those involved in the sex trade, and support those who wish to exit.
The Review highlights that despite the criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services, demand has not decreased. The Review also points to recommendations to address this through awareness-raising; these are mirrored in the Programme for Government and the Zero Tolerance Strategy.
Certain recommendations will be considered in respect of law enforcement, and officials are consulting with An Garda Síochána, in this regard.
According to An Garda Síochána, the DPP had directed 161 prosecutions for the offence of ‘Payment etc. for Sexual Activity with a Prostitute’, from January 2017 up to August 2024. Over that period, our police service recorded 15 convictions under this legislation.
Statement On conclusion Of DNA Testing On Human Remains Recovered By ICLVR.
The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, has expressed his disappointment today following confirmation that the human remains recovered recently by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains in Co. Monaghan are not those of Mr Joe Lynskey.
Minister O’Callaghan said: “When the Commission announced that unidentified remains had been found following an exhumation late last year, we all hoped that they would be identified as those of Joe Lynskey. I held hope that the Lynskey family would finally be able to lay him to rest. I am saddened that this is not the case. Today, my thoughts again are with the Lynskey family who have had to endure this particular cruelty for over 50 years. I would also acknowledge that this experience has been distressing for the family whose grave was opened in order to carry out the exhumation and I am thankful for their understanding in such difficult circumstances. I want also to commend the dedicated and ceaseless humanitarian work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains. I assure them and the families of the Disappeared of my and the Government’s support for their ongoing work. The Commission will continue its vital work and I appeal again, today, to anyone with any information that could help the families of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire to share this information with the Commission now.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains(ICLVR) has also issued the following statement: “In an effort to locate the remains of Joe Lynskey, one of the Disappeared who went missing in the summer of 1972, human remains were exhumed from a grave in Annyalla Cemetery, Co Monaghan on 26 November 2024. The results of the DNA examination of the remains have now eliminated them as being those of the family to whom the grave belongs and now also eliminated them as being those of Joe Lynskey or any of the Disappeared. All the interested parties including the Lynskey family have been informed. We know that this news is deeply disappointing for the Lynskey family and the thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with them at this most difficult time. We are also conscious that this was a distressing experience for the family whose grave was opened to facilitate the exhumation. We are grateful for their co-operation and support at all stages of the process. The Commission will continue to do everything in its power to locate and recover the remains of all of the outstanding Disappeared cases. We would again appeal to anyone with information relating to Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac or Seamus Maguire to bring it to the ICLVR where it will be treated in the strictest confidence”.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), led by Commissioners Mr. Tim Dalton and Mrs Rosalie Flanagan, was established by an Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and signed on 27th April 1999 by legislation enacted in both jurisdictions. The ICLVR is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence who were murdered and secretly buried arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland. Further information is available at www.iclvr.ie The ICLVR needs further information to be able to progress its investigations into the remaining disappeared victims – Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.
Anyone with information on the four outstanding Disappeared cases —Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire; should contact the ICLVR Tel: +353 1 602 8655 or Mr Dennis Godfrey (ICLVR), Tel: +44 7771 642348.
In total seven ‘Enforcement Orders’ were served on Irish food businesses in February 2025
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that seven Enforcement Orders were served on food businesses during the month of February for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the FSAI Act, 1998 and the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020. The Enforcement Orders were issued by Environmental Health Officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on: Bombay Kebab House(Take Away), 3 Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary. (For Enforcement Report View Here. Day to Day, Hayestown (Retailer), Boyne Road, Hayestown, Navan, Meath. Tank & Skinny’s, @Number 6(Restaurant/ Café), Courtyard Shopping Centre, Letterkenny, Donegal. Lams(Take Away), 286 Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on: Universal Food Wholesale Distribution Limited(Wholesaler/ Distributor), Unit B3 National Enterprise Park, Togher, Portlaoise, Laois. Far East (Restaurant/ Café), 339 Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
One Prohibition Order was served under the FSAI Act 1998 on: Burren Smokehouse(Fish & Fishery Products Plants – ready to eat fish plants), Kincora Road, Lisdoonvarna, Clare.
Among the reasons for the Enforcement Orders in February were: rodent activity; six mouse carcasses on a warehouse floor; rodent droppings on a shelving unit in service counter area; complete lack of cleaning; significant dirt and grease accumulation on food contact surfaces and equipment; no hot water available for washing surfaces and food equipment; absence of a food safety management system; raw chicken stored in previously used chip boxes; crates and boxes containing out-of-date food in storage area; high-risk ready-to-eat foods and other cooked items stored at unsafe temperatures.
Mr Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, stated that vigilance is always required in relation to food safety and that standards must be maintained to ensure that consumer health is not put at risk. “February’s Enforcement Orders serve as an important reminder that food safety must always be a top priority for all food businesses. Regular checks and adherence to food safety and hygiene standards are essential to protect consumers’ health and maintain public trust. There are no excuses for failing to comply with legal requirements, and any lapse in food safety practices puts consumers at direct risk. Implementing a food safety management system is straightforward, especially with the supports available from the FSAI, yet some businesses continue to neglect this crucial legal requirement. Consumers have a right to safe food and it is imperative that all food businesses uphold the highest standards of food safety and hygiene at all times.”
Separately, during the month of February one prosecution was taken by the Health Service Executive in relation to: Dunnes Stores Unlimited Company(Retailer), Trimgate Street, Navan, Meath.
Inland Fisheries Ireland have gained a conviction against the environmental engineering firm, named as Glanua Group Ltd., following a toxic chemical spill into the River Suir at Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Image Courtesy Inland Fisheries Ireland
Glanua Group Ltd were found to have caused harmful matter to flow into the River Suir at Holycross, and were directed to pay fines plus expenses of €5,561.
The firm operates the Thurles Water Treatment Plant on behalf of Uisce Éireann, from a facility that was built within the last five years. The River Suir was found to have approximately 400m of a yellowish cream deposit, understood to be Aluminium sulphate on the river bed. Aluminium sulfate is used in water purification and for chemical phosphorus removal from wastewater. It causes suspended impurities to coagulate into larger particles and then settle to the bottom of a container. This chemical has the potential to be very toxic for fish and invertebrates if released into the river, depending on the levels of the river water.
Thurles District Court heard that the pollution involved a significant discharge that had been going on over a period of time.
Inland Fisheries Ireland are urging people to report water pollution, illegal fishing, habitat destruction, fish kills or issues of concern in their local rivers/lakes to its confidential 24/7, Tel No – 0818 34 74 24.
This successful prosecution is, at last, part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s determined efforts to protect the State’s rivers, streams, and lakes.
201 trainees enter Templemore Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, in highest intake in over six years.
6,700 applications received in latest recruitment campaign.
149 new Gardaí were attested from Templemore Garda College last Friday.
201 trainees entered the Garda College in Templemore today Monday March 10th 2025, the highest number since 2019. This intake follows the attestation of 149 new probationer Gardaí at a ceremony in Templemore on Friday last.
We understand that this high intake reflects the growing momentum in Garda recruitment.
The latest Garda recruitment campaign was launched in February last and received over 6,700 applications. This marks a continued increase on the 5,000 applications received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 last year.
Some 32% of applicants are female, while 42% of applicants are aged 30 years and over, and 23% of those detailed are from an ethnic background, sharing characteristics such as culture, language, religion, and traditions, other than being white Irish. This is important since An Garda Síochána is a community-focused policing service, and therefore should reflect diverse and thriving communities.
The Government is fully committed to strengthening An Garda Síochána by 5,000 members over the next five years.
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