Thank you, Sylda.
Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Firstly, I would like to echo Minister Shatter’s remarks this morning concerning the excellent turnout today. I am very pleased to see so many participants here for this important conference.
The morning presentations and discussions were most interesting and I’m sure the two sessions this afternoon will be equally so.
Prostitution raises a plethora of issues, including very significant issues about public health. As the first session this afternoon concerns that very topic, it’s appropriate that I should focus my remarks on this particular issue.
Women involved in prostitution have disproportionate exposure to communicable diseases and require access to physical and mental health services. Mental health services for those involved in prostitution is a matter of particular interest for me, since my ministerial brief includes responsibility for mental health.
The HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan 2008-2012, published in 2008, notes that interventions which focus on changing behaviour among commercial sex workers, and their clients, are important strategies to reduce HIV transmission.
The plan also noted that sex workers who work “on the street” have been identified as being most at risk of HIV transmission as well as finding themselves in circumstances where they are vulnerable to high levels of violence and exploitation.
Although the rate of new cases of HIV decreased in 2010 and 2011, increases in the rates of diagnosis among some groups which previously responded well to health protection messages indicate that preventing HIV and AIDS and promoting safer sexual practices must continue to be priorities for both the health and education sectors into the future.
The recent mid-term review of the Education and Prevention Plan recommended a review of current legislation governing prostitution to ensure that access to health and social services for sex workers is not impeded. In the circumstances, this conference and the review of our prostitution legislation are timely. Clearly, the Department of Health and the HSE will have a very important role to play in the review.
Health services for women involved in prostitution were set up over 20 years ago. Today, the Women’s Health Service within the HSE covers 4 different remits - sexual health treatment, prevention and awareness, street outreach services and specialised trafficking clinics.
Very briefly, the prevention and awareness remit of the Women’s Health Service includes educating women in prostitution in sexual health, contraception and condom use. It also includes educating professional bodies and training institutes on prostitution and its impact. Outreach services endeavour to access women where prostitution occurs. Specialised trafficking clinics attend to the specific needs of women exploited by sex trafficking.
I am delighted that Linda Latham, Manager of the Women’s Health Service is able to join us today as a speaker. I’m sure Linda will be able to tell us a lot more about her role and give us useful insights based on her extensive experience.
I am also delighted that Mick Quinlan of the Gay Men’s Health Service will make a presentation to us during the public health session. Mick has considerable experience in the provision of services for gay and bisexual men and for transgender persons. It is very important that we hear his perspective on the issue of prostitution.
The National Aids Strategy Committee, or NASC as it’s known, is chaired at Minister of State level in the Department of Health. This is an advisory group initially set up in 1991 to address the then emerging AIDS crisis.
I’ve already referred to the HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan. The plan is overseen by the Education and Prevention Sub-Committee of NASC. NASC has two other sub-committees, at present - one addressing care and management, and the other surveillance.
The Education and Prevention Plan 2008-2012 provides a roadmap for HIV and AIDS education and prevention in Ireland. It presents six key areas for action among seven population groups, including sex workers.
The plan was informed by research conducted by NUIG - also making a considerable and much appreciated input to today’s conference - and by the findings of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships.
Ongoing investment is made by the health sector in delivering safer sex messages to the broader youth population, through direct advertising and marketing campaigns in places of entertainment, etc. These campaigns have become a key part of the sexual health promotion infrastructure in Ireland and have continued to reinforce the core message of condom use and early testing.
The implementation of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools, as part of the national curriculum, is a basic component of the prevention strategy. The health and education sectors work in partnership with NGOs to support schools in the delivery of this curriculum in a manner that aims to meet the needs of young people, with more specifically designed programmes for young people most at risk.
Before, I conclude I should also mention plans for a National Sexual Health Strategy. The Department of Health has established a steering group to oversee the drafting of the strategy in the form of a strategic document outlining Government policy in relation to sexual health. It’s expected that the strategy will aim to improve the sexual health of all the population, with particular attention to vulnerable groups, such as women involved in prostitution.
I have probably spoken for long enough, ladies and gentlemen and we have a packed programme for the afternoon.
I know that Minister Shatter intends to publish a report of the conference and I look forward to seeing that in due course.
I also look forward to the report, due later in the year, of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which is conducting the public consultation element of the current review of prostitution legislation. I wish the committee well in its important work.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.