Bethany Home and prostitution law
The Senator backed action on Bethany Home and accused the State of failing survivors because of religious discrimination. He then strongly criticised the enforcement outcome in a prostitution-related case, prompting interjections from Senator Bacik.
I support Senator Boyhan in his remarks about Bethany Home. Many years ago the Anglican Archbishop spoke out clearly on the matter and asked for it to be taken into account. It is nothing other than religious discrimination that this has not happened. The issue would have been forgotten only for the great work done by Derek Leinster.
I completely disagree with my colleague, Senator Bacik. I do not know how anybody can be pleased about the prospect of a lonely 65 year old man, coming from a deprived area of Dublin, being named and fined in court. It seems that this is rank and smug hypocrisy. I remember that during the debate here it flew in the face of all of the academic research produced by Queen's University, Belfast, which I outlined. I urge anybody who wants to see that research and know the truth about this matter to read the debate in which I outlined these facts.
