'A rushed law is a bad law': Fears over scrutiny of sex-for-rent legislation

As well as sex for rent, the bill aims to restrict access to counselling notes in sexual offences trials, and permit gardaí to order the removal of face coverings at protests

(Left to right) Brian Hearne of the Irish Council for International Students, Donna Von Allemann of Rape Crisis Ireland, Ivana Bacik TD, Senator Laura Harmon and Chris Clifford president of the Union of Students in Ireland outside Leinster House in April ahead of the Seanad debate on the bill to ban sex-for-rent arrangements. Mr Hearne said 'We find it very concerning that the committee did not discuss the sex-for-rent provision of the Bill.' File photo: Sasko Lazarov/Rollingnews.ie

Scrutiny of legislation which will outlaw sex for rent has been slammed for failing to hear from any witnesses, experts or discussing the practice.

The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous) Bill 2025 was the subject of pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.