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A COMMITTEE EXAMINING legislation relating to prostitution will hear from a range of experts today, including award-winning journalist Paul Maguire who produced a hard hitting documentary on the Irish sex trade last year.
The Minister for Justice and Equality referred a discussion document on the future direction of Prostitution Legislation to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality last year.
The Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality then invited written submissions from interested groups or individuals in relation to this review: it received more than 850 submissions.
The Committee will continue its fourth hearing on submissions received in relation to the review of prostitution legislation today, with Committee Chairman David Stanton TD saying members were “particularly interested” in getting Maguire’s perspective.
“Last year, the award-winning RTÉ journalist produced and presented the Profiting From Prostitution documentary on prostitution in Irish towns which dealt with the serious issues of criminality and the exploitation of women involved in the sex industry.
“Given his investigations and reporting on this area, we will be particularly interested in getting his perspective on our legislation,” said Stanton.
“This will be the fourth in our series of hearings as we engage with a wide variety of people and organisations working with those involved in prostitution to get their views on what changes they would like to see as part of any review.”
Stanton added that, as part of their work in the area, members of the Committee have already met with fellow parliamentarians in Sweden to discuss their experiences of the drafting and implementation of its legislation on prostitution which “criminalised the purchase of sexual services rather than the sale of sexual services”.
Paul Maguire was appointed editor of the new multi-media RTÉ Investigations Unit in December 2012.
The meeting will start in Committee Room 2, Leinster House at 2pm, and can be followed live here.
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Just legalise it
It already is legal!
Prostitution in the Republic of Ireland is, itself, legal, but most activities associated with it (such as soliciting in a public place, operating brothels, and other forms of pimping) are illegal. Theyre going to make it illegal, another step towards. You’d think we had enough of chatolic nut jobs telling us what to do already??
Matthew,
Prostitution is criminalized since 1993 – according to some experts the feminist movement’s main goal is to reduce choice, to force people to dedicate their lives to unattractive, high spending, ruinously expensive spousal support. We need to enable people take responsibility by dropping the ‘nanny state’ and legalizing professions which also broadens the tax base.
If they legalise it they will probably tax it ;)
And broaden the tax base.
So they are going to listen to a guy that produced a program that centered on one aspects of prostitution, which was trafficking. Trafficking is the most heinous crime and should carry very heavy sentences. Prostitution is not trafficking. Its like suggesting the guy that smokes a joint is a dealer. This RTE program was designed o be sensational and focused on a 4 or five women who were trafficked. I hope they get a balance and talk to many of the women who made a choice to go into their profession.
Legalise it so girls can be protected from sick clients who may do them harm and also stop human trafficking. I am sure there are girls who want to be in the trade for the money and job but I am sure there is alot forced which is really sad.
This trade will never stop . So bring it into the open . This way the girls involved will have some form of protection from exploitation .
Annnnnd the pervs and creeps are just about to crawl out of the woodwork..
You mean the ones opposed to the sex trade, who think its ok to rape little boys and enslave women in laundry’s.
Good rates for an escort these days. Cheaper than boozing.
There is a real opportunity here to make a change for the good here.
To protect these young women from gangs of pimps who force the to sell their bodies…..but we all know they’ll drop the ball……
I’m giving odds on excuses…..
2:1 on “constitution”
3:1 on “moral dilemma needs further examination”
5:2 on “put on long finger until attention drawn away”
Forcing them to sell their bodies is already illegal. This legislation will lock up the victims. Stop this crazy Catholic shite.
Criminalising the purchase of sex is an insane policy. It guarantees that the only people who purchase sex will be criminals.
The theory behind it is that it will reduce demand – but (introduction to economics, chapter 1) what does reduced demand do? Reduce the price. Does that sound like it will make the lives of prostitutes better or worse?
Good point.
Yes, that is what the feminists are demanding. Very partisan.
Interesting choice of accompanying photo.
The editors do know that some women actually choose to be in the sex trade, right?
Interesting to note that most people who favour legalisation are men…
No they’re not. Also there are plenty of sex workers in favour of keeping it legal to buy and sell sex: it’s their livelihood and sometimes their only real option.
I don’t see why they should have to face increases in violence, rape, exploitation and stigma (which is what happens when it is criminalised). It should be kept legal to protect them.
Why does lreland keep looking up to sweden when it comes to law? Isnt sweden the same country which is trying to extradite an innocent man on trumped up ‘rape’ charges? Why doesn’t Ireland not look at Germany for advice on law? Or are the Germans not advanced enough? Prostitution offers some of the safest sex for men. No false rape accusations, protection is always used, both parties and not drunk out of their heads and with the mutual understanding this is just sex. Also what constitutes illegal prostitution? Will a guy visiting a dominatrix also be prosecuted even though no sex takes place? Will a guy getting a lapdance be prosecuted? When does it become illegal? This is just more feminist led legislation in their journey to criminalise males. Come out of the dark ages Ireland. How I miss my days of going to a lapdance club after work on a friday since moving to this country.
Yeah, Sweden claims something of a victory in it’s zero tolerance attitude.
It’s bull though because when you have zero tolerance you can’t get true figures.
It’s the oldest trade in the world and many governments still can’t accept that being open about it makes it safer. That really is the bottom line.
It really amazes me how for nanny state stuff the government are so anxious to push such legislation by pointing at foreign examples that suit them yet when it comes to health and education they’re not so anxious.
Interesting how Paul Maguire can bring us balanced reporting on prostitution and be a political activist for criminalisation of the purchase of sex. Keep paying those TV licenses folks.
If its legalised then it means girls/men will be cleaner and have regular testing. Find it very unfair that someone who may not be attractive enough or confident enough to get someone can be arrested because they feel they have to pay for it.
Those of you who are speaking in favor of legalizing prostitution I’d very much encourage you to try it and share your experiences!
Those speaking in favor of legalizing prostitution – I would very much encourage you to try it and share your experiences! I’d luv to know if you enjoy having “sex” 15 times a day with strangers?!? can’t imagine it myself but who knows…
have your say