Worst news ever

[annabel taylor]

Yeah, 'meh' with a certain demographic. And law doesn't affect most voters. Fine Gael demographic is centre-right, traditional family values: so, for Fine Gael this law fits snugly. It can be spun and twisted to show what a good job they're doing. Parties legislate for their voter base - the conservative gents will sip their wine relieved that the country is doing its bit for the poor-and-downtrodden 'victims' whilst secretly eying up the latest girls on EI. And the tea cups of the 'Dear Ladies' will cease to rattle in their saucers.

Perfect post, anyone in opposition of this can simply be labelled pimp or pervert and supports raping of girls
Its a moral issues, and nice one to play some political games with bit of distraction, get the feminist catholic vote, coz sure those nice folk at fine geal help the poor things out

Plus Fitzgerald wants something big to promote how she going to get tough on crime,

[talkabout]

GREAT
Ihavent went to meet an escourt yet (dying to because sex with the same girl is getting ...)
i always hold back on meeting my first escourt because im a bit nervous and nervous of where the location would be....some risky neighborhood or town etc. .....and now THIS!? ..............starting to wonder about the whole fantasy now...

Forget the theory-go for the practical!

[Catriona]

Yeah, 'meh' with a certain demographic. And law doesn't affect most voters. Fine Gael demographic is centre-right, traditional family values: so, for Fine Gael this law fits snugly. It can be spun and twisted to show what a good job they're doing. Parties legislate for their voter base - the conservative gents will sip their wine relieved that the country is doing its bit for the poor-and-downtrodden 'victims' whilst secretly eying up the latest girls on EI. And the tea cups of the 'Dear Ladies' will cease to rattle in their saucers.

Seeing that it's Frances Fitzgerald introducing the law and she's Labour - I think it's more to save their behinds as they've royally fucked up politically in this government, especially in party promises as they were the ones suppose to prevent some of the harsher Fine Gael policies. Alan Shatter was against this law and Fitzgerald has reversed some of the decisions he was suppose to introduce such as lowering the age of consent. When we met with Fitzgerald, she asked one of our companions as a feminist how can she support the buying of sex, as Sweden introduced the law on Gender Equality reasons.

[annabel taylor]

Seeing that it's Frances Fitzgerald introducing the law and she's Labour - I think it's more to save their behinds as they've royally fucked up politically in this government, especially in party promises as they were the ones suppose to prevent some of the harsher Fine Gael policies. Alan Shatter was against this law and Fitzgerald has reversed some of the decisions he was suppose to introduce such as lowering the age of consent. When we met with Fitzgerald, she asked one of our companions as a feminist how can she support the buying of sex, as Sweden introduced the law on Gender Equality reasons.

Labour and fine geal are one now a days

They do not care what you or I have to say, there pushing this for the press release

[Meursault]

today they signalled the intention to build council houses........ and while i applaud that, again the timing is done close to election to gain votes.....they have to systematically plan their attacks

[dob]

Seeing that it's Frances Fitzgerald introducing the law and she's Labour - I think it's more to save their behinds as they've royally fucked up politically in this government, especially in party promises as they were the ones suppose to prevent some of the harsher Fine Gael policies. Alan Shatter was against this law and Fitzgerald has reversed some of the decisions he was suppose to introduce such as lowering the age of consent. When we met with Fitzgerald, she asked one of our companions as a feminist how can she support the buying of sex, as Sweden introduced the law on Gender Equality reasons.

Frances Fitzgerald is Fine Gael. As for the age of consent, I even heard David Quinn argue that it should be lowered to 16.
Shatter seemed have a more open opinion on this issue and kicked it down the road a few times, but it is very clear that Fitzgerald only sees it one way. Given the whip system and the support for TORL from FF SF and several independents, I could see only 4 or 5 TDs voting against this model.
Public opinion hasn't been tested on this issue and to be honest I don't think it is an issue that those not involved particularly care about.

What can be done?
For one the public don't like to be lied to, point out the lies of TORL.
Focus on the consenting adults argument.
Focus on the deployment of Garda resources towards policing this, away from serious crime.
Focus on the issues of privacy and threats to civil liberty
Focus on the fact that current laws exist to punish all of the abuses in the sex industry
And focus on the fact that this law is based on nothing other than ideology.

[Batterburger]

Guys you really need to calm those nerves and and don't be too concerned about this these boys in Leinster house don't do anything quickly and they may not be around in the next six months

[JoesphHenry]

Frances Fitzgerald is Fine Gael. As for the age of consent, I even heard David Quinn argue that it should be lowered to 16.
Shatter seemed have a more open opinion on this issue and kicked it down the road a few times, but it is very clear that Fitzgerald only sees it one way. Given the whip system and the support for TORL from FF SF and several independents, I could see only 4 or 5 TDs voting against this model.
Public opinion hasn't been tested on this issue and to be honest I don't think it is an issue that those not involved particularly care about.

What can be done?
For one the public don't like to be lied to, point out the lies of TORL.
Focus on the consenting adults argument.
Focus on the deployment of Garda resources towards policing this, away from serious crime.
Focus on the issues of privacy and threats to civil liberty
Focus on the fact that current laws exist to punish all of the abuses in the sex industry
And focus on the fact that this law is based on nothing other than ideology.

What I should have added earlier is the importance of the bun-baking-fundraising Ladies (Kinder-Küche-Kirche). You can see it in both sides of Irish religions. On the outside, it looks like the men rule-the-roost, but look closely and the men are always watching over their shoulders as to whether their wives approve - they have to sleep in the same bed Those same men are in the Dail. And most of the women TDs have the same socio-economic-religious background - Fitzgerald is a good example. There are exceptions, unfortunately few.
However, that centre-middle element is a tough nut to crack.

Can't resist in saying - in the light of moral and belief involvement, to the exclusion of almost everything else - the road to hell is paved with good deeds.

The whole feminist argument is obfuscation - a form of control over fellow women. You can't eat feminism, you can't drink it, it doesn't pay the water bill

There is a lot of hypocrisy and lying.

You highlighted some excellent points:
For one the public don't like to be lied to, point out the lies of TORL.
Focus on the consenting adults argument.
Focus on the deployment of Garda resources towards policing this, away from serious crime.
Focus on the issues of privacy and threats to civil liberty
Focus on the fact that current laws exist to punish all of the abuses in the sex industry
And focus on the fact that this law is based on nothing other than ideology.

[The Equalizer]

Here are some reasons:

• When something is illegal, it creates a lucrative black market for criminals
• It promotes the stigma that sex workers are the dregs of society and reinforces hate crime towards them
• It will be more difficult for sex workers to 'vet' their clients do clients constantly changing their details and phone numbers to avoid getting caught
• Known sex work locations will be constantly monitored by police who will be hounding their [escort's] clients, which in turn, will have an adverse impact on their livelihood

Very good points samlad.

By Samlad
Comment

When something is illegal, it creates a lucrative black market for criminals
We need look no further than illegal drugs and excise-free cigarettes for proof of this (and these are only two such lucrative markets for criminals)

It promotes the stigma that sex workers are the dregs of society and reinforces hate crime towards them
To be honest, I have often thought that this is an "intended" consequence of Swedish-style Legislation. When one considers how relatively light a client could be penalized (a fine and a caution [initially ])versus the numerous indirect (and indeed very severe) negative implications for Independent Sex Workers

It will be more difficult for sex workers to 'vet' their clients do clients constantly changing their details and phone numbers to avoid getting caught
As a result, Independent Sex Workers may find themselves losing respectable Clients who may stop (due to ramifiactions of
Swedish-style Legislation if caught by Police), and will unfortunately end up accepting bookings from potentially dangerous (possibly criminal element) Clients who may subject them to abuse. As with the above point, I think this is an "intended" consequence.

Known sex work locations will be constantly monitored by police who will be hounding their [escort's] clients, which in turn, will have an adverse impact on their livelihood
As above, I believe that this is another "intended" consequence. It is most likely the intention in this instance to ensure an Escorts business suffers to the point that they cannot afford to operate from a premises (maybe even become homeless) and then forced into the "safety" of Ruhama and TORL.

[lookingforsugarbabe]

It will definitely affect the business big time...
-A lot of punters will not take the chance
-The power of the escort will in fact increase. Eg threat of blackmail. But for most it will be less business and more hassle.
-Some other business's will gain. Eg sugardaddy.
-Many established escorts will move to other territories like germany spain
-Increase in sex tourism
-Perhaps some innovation eg "massage or genteman's clubs"
With some ploy like you go for a massage, the lady starts to give you a blow-job and you can be fairly sure its not a cop...
However still risk of blackmail etc so big deterrent for punters.
-Cops will go after punters as high profile and also easy low risk work compared to chasing bank robbers, terrorists etc who carry real guns!*
-Also the media will love it so lot of backhanders to cos to get juicy stories.
Overall the policy will have desired affect...less escorting and less punting plain and simple.
Most punters and escorts will simply move on to other hobbies abd jobs.