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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Human Trafficking Bill: Paying for sex to become a crime in Northern Ireland | Human Trafficking Bill: Paying for sex to become a crime in Northern Ireland |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland is to become the first part of the UK to make paying for sex a criminal offence. | Northern Ireland is to become the first part of the UK to make paying for sex a criminal offence. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has passed the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill, which includes a clause criminalising payment for sex. | The Northern Ireland Assembly has passed the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill, which includes a clause criminalising payment for sex. |
| The private member's bill was brought before the house by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) peer Lord Morrow and passed its final stage on Tuesday. | The private member's bill was brought before the house by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) peer Lord Morrow and passed its final stage on Tuesday. |
| The bill will be submitted to the Queen for Royal Assent, before becoming law. | The bill will be submitted to the Queen for Royal Assent, before becoming law. |
| 'Moral issues' | 'Moral issues' |
| Lord Morrow told the assembly his Christian faith underpinned his decision to bring forward the wide-ranging legislation. | Lord Morrow told the assembly his Christian faith underpinned his decision to bring forward the wide-ranging legislation. |
| He described human trafficking as "a heinous crime" that had to be tackled in Northern Ireland. | He described human trafficking as "a heinous crime" that had to be tackled in Northern Ireland. |
| The peer acknowledged that clause 15 of the new legislation, which criminalises those who pay for sexual services, was "clearly the most divisive aspect of my bill". | The peer acknowledged that clause 15 of the new legislation, which criminalises those who pay for sexual services, was "clearly the most divisive aspect of my bill". |
| At present, prostitution legislation criminalises aspects of selling sex, for example running a brothel. | |
| Justice Minister David Ford, who described the bill as "ground-breaking", said he still had misgivings about the prostitution clause. | Justice Minister David Ford, who described the bill as "ground-breaking", said he still had misgivings about the prostitution clause. |
| Mr Ford said it had "diverted the focus away from some of the other important measures and into the moral issues surrounding the purchase of sex". | Mr Ford said it had "diverted the focus away from some of the other important measures and into the moral issues surrounding the purchase of sex". |
| 'Counterproductive' | 'Counterproductive' |
| Opponents of the clause have argued that it would be difficult to enforce and claimed a ban no paying for sex would push vulnerable sex workers further underground. | Opponents of the clause have argued that it would be difficult to enforce and claimed a ban no paying for sex would push vulnerable sex workers further underground. |
| Green Party MLA Steven Agnew said he remained concerned that the clause involving prostitution could be "counterproductive in relation to the aims of the bill". | Green Party MLA Steven Agnew said he remained concerned that the clause involving prostitution could be "counterproductive in relation to the aims of the bill". |
| Lord Morrow's bill could lead the way in efforts by campaigners to outlaw the purchase of sex across the island of Ireland. | Lord Morrow's bill could lead the way in efforts by campaigners to outlaw the purchase of sex across the island of Ireland. |
| Last month, the Irish government announced that it also plans to criminalise the payment of prostitutes in the Republic of Ireland. | Last month, the Irish government announced that it also plans to criminalise the payment of prostitutes in the Republic of Ireland. |
| Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald published a draft bill that proposed wide-ranging reforms to sexual offences legislation, including a new measure making it a crime to pay for sex. | Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald published a draft bill that proposed wide-ranging reforms to sexual offences legislation, including a new measure making it a crime to pay for sex. |