From The Implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, Part IV – An Interim Review:

From Report:
“The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act was enacted in March 2017 and is a wide-ranging piece of legislation on sexual offences which includes an offence in Part IV which relates to the purchase of sexual services. The law now also ensures that those exploited in prostitution are decriminalised. It also criminalises any person who purchases or attempts to purchase sexual activity from another person. The Act strengthens the provisions in relation to the buying of a trafficked person for sexual exploitation. The Act also enhances and updates laws to combat the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, including new offences relating to child sexual grooming and new and strengthened offences to tackle child pornography.
Footnotes:
2 Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality (June 2013) “Report on hearings and submissions on the Review of Legislation on Prostitution” Houses of the Oireachtas p 74 available from: https:// webarchive.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/justice/1.part-1-final.pdf.
3 Ibid, p 75 & 76.
4 Ibid, p 74-76.

Comment:
I believe this dialogue (published 11 December 2013) between then Minister Alan Shatter and David Stanton TD then Chair of Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality makes points of considerable relevance to this review and has been overlooked.
Emails between Minister Alan Shatter and David Stanton TD

• The High Level Working Group – page 4.
• The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 – page 4.
• The Context – the Commercial Sex Trade in Ireland – page 5.
• Key findings of the research – page 6.
1. Profile of women exploited in the Irish sex trade – page 7.
2. Demand – page 8.
• The International Context – page 6.
• Related areas of Implementation and Recommendations – page 6.
1. Protection, legal advocacy and exit supports – page 8.
   Recommendations – page 9.
2. Legislation and Enforcement 10.
   Recommendations – page 11.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation – page 12.
   Recommendations – page 13.
4. A National Rapporteur – page 14.
5. Public awareness, education and research – page 15.
   Recommendations – page 16.