Conclusion of Meeting with Minister

[Catriona]

I think there is little doubt what way this government feels about the proposed legislation. The previous minister, Alan Shatter, had a more balanced approach, judging by the figures from his department on trafficking etc. As others have said, I salute any sex worker who is brave enough to raise their head above the parapet and speak out. I know as a client I would find it difficult to do.

If, as seems to be the case, the legislation is a foregone conclusion, then the only avenue left is for a constitutional challenge to the proposed legislation if enacted. Others have previously pointed out, under our constitution you cannot criminalise half a transaction. This would be a very clear route, unlike the UK and North we have a written constitutions. The drawbacks are that it would be a costly process and would involve someone publicly fronting the challenge. i.e. a client who risks being criminalised!!!!

Only my thoughts, and again well done to any ladies who have/had the guts to meet politicians/journos etc.

There are already plans to do constitutional challenge with a sex worker when the law passes. They are already working on something in Canada too where the Swedish Model has passed especially since a couple of the laws related to prostitution were determined unconstitutional last year in Canada and the Swedish Model would also fall under the same ruling.

[funlover12]

oh my God!!

Is this the Start of the End?

Are we Finished?

or the end of the beginning

[funlover12]

There are already plans to do constitutional challenge with a sex worker when the law passes. They are already working on something in Canada too where the Swedish Model has passed especially since a couple of the laws related to prostitution were determined unconstitutional last year in Canada and the Swedish Model would also fall under the same ruling.

what do you mean

[Rachel Divine]

what do you mean

She will take your Minister of Justice to a Supreme Court, unconstitutional grounds of the Swedish model, once is passed in Ireland.

I think

[Kilkenny sex mad addict]

I feel like crying when I read this and I've been following some trends over
the last few weeks about what's happening in Northern Ireland and how people
think that this was going to happen here and I really thought it was light
years away, but this brings the stark reality home and it's very clear that
the Minister and her civil servants have a plan for us and then without them
asking us what we think there are deciding for us like they always do and I
am most unhappy with this possibility looming

[liffey]

Mongering, punting, whatever you call this "hobby", is what keeps me sane.

No way will I just go back to enforced celibacy without a fight.

One other tactic that might be useful is to delay any new law until after the next election. The government have a lot of urgent things to get done in the meantime, and nobody seems to think they can stay in office next time. I don't see what can replace the current lot, but they've pissed so many people off about water that they can't get reelected.

In the meantime, we somehow need to get coverage of the connection between the Magdalene orders, Ruhama and TORL into the public consciousness. We need to find some journalist and media who can use the facts that brave people have dug up to counteract their lies.

[Meursault]

I feel like crying when I read this and I've been following some trends over
the last few weeks about what's happening in Northern Ireland and how people
think that this was going to happen here and I really thought it was light
years away, but this brings the stark reality home and it's very clear that
the Minister and her civil servants have a plan for us and then without them
asking us what we think there are deciding for us like they always do and I
am most unhappy with this possibility looming

at the risk of sounding redundant, the public (the majority) are leaning on the side of no prostitution. The government based on this opinion are responding. If you want to prevent this happening, change the public opinion and you will change the governments opinion

[Meursault]

Mongering, punting, whatever you call this "hobby", is what keeps me sane.

No way will I just go back to enforced celibacy without a fight.

One other tactic that might be useful is to delay any new law until after the next election. The government have a lot of urgent things to get done in the meantime, and nobody seems to think they can stay in office next time. I don't see what can replace the current lot, but they've pissed so many people off about water that they can't get reelected.

In the meantime, we somehow need to get coverage of the connection between the Magdalene orders, Ruhama and TORL into the public consciousness. We need to find some journalist and media who can use the facts that brave people have dug up to counteract their lies.

what you need to do is espouse the benefits of prostitution to the masses. an escort is a service/product and why is that service/product worth maintaining???????

[Meursault]

being brutally honest i cant see what people can do. anything that detracts from conventional living is deemed negative in the eyes of the majority.

[connoisseur]

What about the 1001 sex workers that I see this morning on Escort Ireland?

Where will go go to work next year when the minister brings in I
Telling us what to do and what not to do????

What about the contribution that these marvellous ladies and laddies do throughout the length and breadth of the country to keep us horny guy satisfied and to keep some dangerous guys away from doing things to girls they shouldn't do???

Escort do a fantastic job in handling our stress and sex for ages and it strikes me that it is almost certain that certain guys will not be able to deal with their urges like mature grown-up people that they should be and the inevitable will happen and they will have affairs at parties and do things in pubs and bars that they shouldn't do that might otherwise have been avoided if they had a 30 minute quickie with their local escort???

What harm is the current system doing to anybody?