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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Criminalisation of sex purchase

Summary

Senator Norris challenges the influence of Ruhama and calls for a balanced debate on proposals to criminalise purchasing sex, citing Sweden’s experience.

David P.B. Norris Senator David Norris Independent

The €350 million would get lost in a hole in a tooth in this game. It is what is provided for the roads in County Clare.

The second issue I wish to raise concerns the Ruhama campaign, Turn Off the Red Light. Ruhama is a plague formed out of the order of nuns who instigated it, who were in charge of the Magdalen laundries. One must temper one's listening to them.

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

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David P.B. Norris Senator David Norris Independent

I put this question directly to the Leader. Where is the other side in the Ruhama debate or in the debate on same sex marriage? We have this little tit of a yoke - the Iona Institute. Nobody knows where it gets its money from. It is financed from pizzas in America. We have every academic crank and a few half-baked gay men on it, always talking against gay marriage and about the necessity for equality. Where is the equality with regard to criminalising the purchase of sex, when we know damn well it has not worked in Sweden and is a disaster-----

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

The Senator is way over time.

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