Paying for sex is now illegal in Ireland – law took effect on 22/02/17

[Sussex Scene 1]

Sussex Scene
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:49 pm

Republic of Ireland to follow Northen Ireland? Sexual Offences Bill set to propose ban on paying for sex

http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/buyers-of-sex-beware-as-change-is-coming-355121.html

IRELAND is about to join the growing list of countries intent on wrecking the business model which has allowed prostitution and human trafficking for exploitation to flourish as a violent, vicious, exploitative criminal industry.

When Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald publishes the new Sexual Offences Bill this week she will be setting us on a course which brings us into line with Sweden, Norway, Canada, Northern Ireland, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and shortly France.

With measures to target the buyers of sex, Ms Fitzgerald will make life a lot more difficult for the pimps, traffickers and thugs who run Irish prostitution and have brought sex-trafficking victims and pop-up brothels to every corner of this country.

The criminality which lies behind the sex-trade has been well documented. Exact figures are difficult to establish but is estimated men who buy sex are putting between €180m to €250m a year directly into the pockets of crime gangs.

The measures which we are expecting from the minister are punitive — but have proven to be highly effective. Those buying sex will in most cases face fines at the lower end of the scale, but what will be achieved in terms of a change of mindset will be huge.

In countries where sex buyer laws have been implemented it is no longer socially acceptable for anyone to buy another person. Faced with a collapse in trade the criminals simply move on.

[Sussex Scene 1]

gdcheers
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2015 7:34 pm

Punting has been illegal in Northern Ireland since June this year.The penalties run from a fine to a year in jail . Reports from escorts working there indicate that more business is now done with regulars. Policing escorting is impractical due to cost. Web advertising is based out of the jurisdiction. There has not been a reported increase in prosecutions. The same will likely apply south of the border.
The main risk will probably be from media promoting moral panic and useless local politicians trying to make names for themselves.

[Sussex Scene 1]

gdcheers
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:11 pm

A survey “Should paid sex be made illegal?” was recently conducted by the Irish Times using click to vote. The 2500 approx. responses indicated 29% in favour and 71% against.
The Irish Republic’s ruling party may not risk increasing it’s unpopularity by introducing this legislation before the next election. However the well funded catholic fundamentalist and feminist lobby groups are not likely to go away.

[Sussex Scene 1]

funkychicken
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 10:28 pm

Such a law in the UK with it’s superior cyber/telephonic surveillance would have devastating effects on the punting trade.

Obviously Brighton police could no longer overlook massage parlours and would have to shut them down or any new law would be made to look farcical

Also you could not make a booking through AW as GCHQ can access their messaging system, your emails email address location and ID. Maybe they wouldn’t bother for the average Joe Schmo not involved in politics but the risk is off putting. You could use the phone number provided but that’s a risk: is it monitored or a set up?

You’d have to resort to cards in shop windows or rely on pick ups

[Sussex Scene 1]

Puntingdouglas
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:07 pm

And it would provide a whole new field of activity for hacker/blackmailers, who may need something like that if Talktalk and co ever get their act together!

[Sussex Scene 1]

funkychicken
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 11:43 am

You know rather than criminal blackmailers it might have been MI5 that hacked into Talk Talk especially if they didn’t play ball about handing over information. That is the ultimate weapon the government has: either give us the low down and cooperate or we hack and ruin your credibility with the public.

I think Talk Talk only realised they were hacked because the hackers had told them and it could be the North Koreans desperate for cash

And you know one reason the government might introduce anti punting laws is so that it has extra power to blackmail difficult politicians who have punted

[Sussex Scene 1]

Puntingdouglas
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 4:12 pm

funkychicken wrote:
You know rather than criminal blackmailers it might have been MI5 that hacked into Talk Talk especially if they didn’t play ball about handing over information. That is the ultimate weapon the government has: either give us the low down and cooperate or we hack and ruin your credibility with the public.

I think Talk Talk only realised they were hacked because the hackers had told them and it could be the North Koreans desperate for cash

And you know one reason the government might introduce anti punting laws is so that it has extra power to blackmail difficult politicians who have punted

Wow! That’s a fair fistful of conspiracy theories. One can only hope you’re wrong on every count, or, rather, that your suspicions are unfounded. Dido Harding (no puns please) has certainly got some questions to answer.

[Sussex Scene 1]

Sir Bonkers
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 6:04 pm

I wonder if Jennai will return?

[Sussex Scene 1]

cm15
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:32 pm

Would have thought the owner of the Escort Ireland website, the convicted pimp and ex RUC man Peter McCormick, is on a sticky wicket in terms of his website now promoting an illegal activity – which I assume is an offence in Ireland as it is in England ?

Maybe it’s a grey area in law in that it’s still legal to work as a prostitute in Ireland and the people advertising are all escorts ?

Anyhow, he won’t take the website down voluntarily. Escort Ireland works differently to AW. It charges 80 Euros a week for a profile (at least that was the price last time I asked an Ireland escort). And with about 700 profiles a week up, the site’s making €56,000 a week – about £50,000 a week – or about £2.5 million a year.

(A better model than AW? as fakers won’t pay €80 a week)

The website’s hosted in Spain but wouldn’t have thought that makes much difference as it’s hosted in the EU.

Wonder if the Irish authorities can get it taken offline, although perhaps they fear that will drive things further underground and give the pimps greater anonymity :confused:

[Sussex Scene 1]

Keira Hunter
Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:03 pm

cm15 wrote:
Would have thought the owner of the Escort Ireland website, the convicted pimp and ex RUC man Peter McCormick, is on a sticky wicket in terms of his website now promoting an illegal activity – which I assume is an offence in Ireland as it is in England ?

Maybe it’s a grey area in law in that it’s still legal to work as a prostitute in Ireland and the people advertising are all escorts ?

Anyhow, he won’t take the website down voluntarily. Escort Ireland works differently to AW. It charges 80 Euros a week for a profile (at least that was the price last time I asked an Ireland escort). And with about 700 profiles a week up, the site’s making €56,000 a week – about £50,000 a week – or about £2.5 million a year.

(A better model than AW? as fakers won’t pay €80 a week)

The website’s hosted in Spain but wouldn’t have thought that makes much difference as it’s hosted in the EU.

Wonder if the Irish authorities can get it taken offline, although perhaps they fear that will drive things further underground and give the pimps greater anonymity :confused:

It’s 80€ a week I assume it’s same as escort Scotland charges 70 a week. If you pay for a month then it’s 110 credits that are at 105£ a month. And you can be featured at the top for another 105£ a month. So if you pay monthly then you’d get featured top ad for approx 50 a week,or basic ad roughly 25 a week.

[Author]

Posts