Page 4856 - Week 16 - Monday, 25 November 1991
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We have heard a number of speakers here today talk about AIDS. Even without any other reason, AIDS is a most compelling reason to do all that we can to limit prostitution. The suggestion that health checks will handle the problem of AIDS and at least eleven other sexually transmitted diseases bears no practical adherence. The incubation period for AIDS can be, I believe, three months, although I have heard longer terms. Any health check would be useless immediately after it has been done. Even if it was worthwhile, how long would it last? It would last up to the next client that the prostitute saw. So, unless you checked out every prostitute after seeing every client, you certainly could not control it, even if there was not an incubation period. But there is.
Another suggestion is that condoms can prevent the spread of AIDS. There are a number of reasons why this does not seem valid. In the Strecker memorandum, Dr Strecker showed that the AIDS virus is not stopped by condoms. I have heard this from a number of sources that I have been looking at.
Mr Connolly: Nonsense, Dennis. That is dangerous nonsense.
Mr Moore: That is dangerous, Dennis. This is irresponsible, Dennis.
MR STEVENSON: Terry Connolly shakes his head. He thinks, indeed, that AIDS - - -
Mr Connolly: This is dangerous, irresponsible stuff you are saying. You are telling people not to use condoms. It is just madness.
MR STEVENSON: Mr Connolly shook his head. I do not know what he thinks. But both he and Michael Moore interjected. Would you repeat what you said, please?
Mr Moore: What you are saying is dangerous.
Mr Connolly: I said, "What you are saying is dangerous".
MR STEVENSON: They say that I made a "dangerous" statement; is that right? Yet, what we hear from the very people who say that I just made a dangerous statement is, "It is okay. A condom will protect you from AIDS". How dangerous a statement is that, if that is not correct? It is a great deal more dangerous than letting people know that there is evidence that shows that condoms will not prevent AIDS. It is that simple. Whether or not they have looked at it, is not necessarily relevant.
As we well know, condoms or not, there are other ways in which AIDS can be spread.
Mrs Nolan: Yes, we know that.
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