Consultation Document Due for Release from DOJ on Thiursday

[LaBelleThatcher]

With nothing else to crow about, Ruhama have broken their uncanny silence to tweet about this.

This is where everybody's ass genuinely *MUST* get into gear, because now it is up to you.

There are no excuses, everybody here is articulate and of above average intelligence...yeah are not people who need an advocate to be able to express yourselves.

If EVERYBODY who reads this board, takes a few hours our to write a concise and professional submission WE WILL WIN THIS.

Pretend you are a whole NGO, getting 2 million a year to take your mates on the razz...OOPS...I mean "advocate for the sex industry".

Use some kind of unique identifier if you can...literally if you even just buy a sim then bin it after using it to ID yourself.

I would also suggest that some of us post our submissions here, just so people know how many there are...I reckon it wouldn't take a whole lot of sucking up for Pat to come up with a board JUST for publishing our submissions on

Nobody has ever done this before, but if we do it right we will WIN THIS.

I was out mowing the lawn, thinking. The glaringly obvious truth that we are all missing is that these abolitionist are actually mentally ill...

It does happen...remember the inquisition, or the Salem Witch Trials concurrent with Matthew Hopkins, the UK Witchfinder general? Fascism?

Too many mentally ill people gathered together and working for a common cause, and it is so unlikely that nobody real notices until it is far too late.

Ruhama's and by extension, Turn Off the Red Light's power depends on presenting themselves as the sole, exclusive, conduit for the voices of sex workers, so the only way to bring them down is to give that the lie by speaking for ourselves.

For your own sakes, I beg you to do this.

[Half Man and Half Dildo]

Thanks, Eileen.

How long will the consultation stage last for? And in what form will it be in, this is open to everyone in Ireland, am I correct?

Now is the time to be listening to Pat Kenny's morning radio show as he will undoubtedly be covering this. I suggest people (especially the escorts) store his contact details on their phones and have a well thought out, concise text\email ready to send.

Here is his contact details:

Email: todaypk@rte.ie

Text Us: Text the word TODAY followed by the comment to 51551
N.I. and Britain: Text the word STUDIO followed by the comment to 80889

On-air Phone: 1850 715 900
GB & N.I.: 0845 7857777
Fax: 01 208 2634

[Lucy Chambers]

Sorry, I have read this twice now and you need to be clearer on precisely what you want people to do Is it send an email, text, call, what? Does it need to go to TD's, press, where? If so it this link? http://www.contact.ie/contact

I think if people have a template email or text to work from and a clear idea of who it needs to go to it will help with numbers.

[LaBelleThatcher]

The consultation is (originally) intended to go on through the summer culminating in an open conference in the Autumn...actually, one of the thing you should be including in your submission is the inequality of the position that will impose upon the people most directly affected, sex workers and their clients, and the ONLY people who really know anything about the sex industry (as opposed to making it up to suit themselves and attract funding - if only sex work was so easy and sex workers also managed to mislay their consciences at the drop of a hat).

You get a LOT further with politicians by suggesting solutions than by raising problems, and you get further still by suggesting solutions that can be sold to the electorate.

Can anyone think of a way that we can be fully included in any conference that will not be equivalent to the last act of the 47 Ronin in our personal lives? If so, TELL the minister, let's make it happen. It can be as easy as thinking of a solution when it comes to inclusion.

[LaBelleThatcher]

Sorry, I have read this twice now and you need to be clearer on precisely what you want people to do Is it send an email, text, call, what? Does it need to go to TD's, press, where? If so it this link? http://www.contact.ie/contact

I think if people have a template email or text to work from and a clear idea of who it needs to go to it will help with numbers.

We won't know the exact details until thursday Lucy...and it is just best to see what their guidelines are and try to stay within them. Personally I find guidelines can be helpful in getting my thoughts nailed down too, but not everyone is the same..

When I have made submissions before I have made them out in the form of a report and then posted them in...for some reason that still seems to have more impact than email (a lot of TDs still read their email every Christmas whether they are expecting anything or not). The good news is that it is best to keep it down under 7 pages or so.

...and the first, most important thing is to realise I do not want you to do what *I* want you to do...

I want you to make the most accurate, concise, report you can on the nature of the Irish sex industry, and how you feel the department should move forward with better legislation. You are the expert.

Offer the minister the benefit of your expertise, wisdom and understanding.

I believe he will respect you and want to hear whatever you have to say, but first you have to say it.

(and I am now so tired I am having trouble working out what I am thinking!)

[the traveller]

Sorry, I have read this twice now and you need to be clearer on precisely what you want people to do Is it send an email, text, call, what? Does it need to go to TD's, press, where? If so it this link? http://www.contact.ie/contact

I think if people have a template email or text to work from and a clear idea of who it needs to go to it will help with numbers.

Agree with you Lucy, I for one would appreciate help in framing a reply but am willing to do my bit to help roll back this prohibition legislation.Also ladies please do your bit as well 'cause when the guys submit I'm afraid they will use the Christine Keeler reply "well he would say that wouldn't he"

[LaBelleThatcher]

Sorry Lucy, I was WAY too tired and losing the run of the head there. Tomorrow the Department of Justice will REQUEST submissions and provide an address within the department of Justice. They will also, most likely provide guidelines, perhaps in the form of specific issues they want to hear about.

[Lucy Chambers]

Sorry Lucy, I was WAY too tired and losing the run of the head there. Tomorrow the Department of Justice will REQUEST submissions and provide an address within the department of Justice. They will also, most likely provide guidelines, perhaps in the form of specific issues they want to hear about.

Ah, super. Thank you In that case we could put together a template then.

[LaBelleThatcher]

Ah, super. Thank you In that case we could put together a template then.

They may even do all that for you, some come out in the form of online questionnaires which is brilliant

[Half Man and Half Dildo]

In February when Alan Shatter announced this consultation process he had this to say -

This is an issue which affects individuals and communities. It is also a societal issue. There are differing and genuinely held views on this matter. Public debate should be open to the widest possible audience and I want to ensure that everyone who wishes to make a contribution to this important debate is given the opportunity to do so. That is the reason I have decided on a consultation process before charting the way ahead. To help inform the debate, I have already published my Department's report on Swedish legislation criminalising the purchase of sexual services. This is available on the Department's website (www.justice.ie).

I have highlighted what I believe to be a very important point which Alan Shatter is clearly aware of, namely that there really is two sides to this debate. Maybe I'm wrong, but it appears to me that Shatter doesn't believe everything he hears from Ruhama.

One of the most important things for any sex-worker to do is for them to inform the minister that he needs to listen to them, the sex-workers themselves, instead of some holier-than-thou knowitall who refuses to even engage with the people whose lives the law will impact upon.