What If Minister Shatter Is Moved Out of Justice?

[The Libertarian]

I think the main rational sane factors which can prevent Swedish model type anti sex worker and anti sex work legislation here are the basic human decency and understanding of Minister Shatter and Mr. De Valera's old constitution.
But with the likelihood of Minister Phil Hogan or at the outside Minister Reilly or Minister Quinn likely to be going to Europe as our next EU commissioner replacing MGQ (who was also quite good on this issue, understanding and stating as Minister For Justice that what consenting adults do in private is no business of the criminal law!), there will be a cabinet reshuffle.
I don't know what Enda Kenny thinks of the proposed legislation (he is known to be a decent person, so he most likely has a good understanding of the terrible consequences of such a law!), but The Fake Socialists may force his hand on Minister Shatter!
Though as a loyal supporter of the Taoiseach and the fact that he is in his dream job, I think Minister Shatter will be left where he is as Minister for Justice and Defence!

[UncleBob]

basic human decency and understanding of Minister Shatter

You mean, what appears to be his desire to stick it to the Roman Catholic Church in every way he can?

And the reasons for his "dream job" being the curious dual portfolio of Police and Army (unique in non-dictatorships?) could do with some scrutiny as well. To an outside observer, Shatter's obsessions are the RCC, the lot of solicitors, and Israel.

[Larrii]

.. his desire to stick it to the Roman Catholic Church in every way he can?..

Wa-heyy!! As distinct from how they used to stick it to us all ?? !! And then send us the bill...

When he goes his officials will brief the next guy or lady with the same info he's had. If they're a lawyer, they'll know all the arguments / if not they'll do as they're told.

[milkman]

Little to no chance that Shatter would be moved - a steady hands on the wheel despite 'Pointsgate' earlier in 2013. No real standout alternative within the coalition - who's Labour spokesperson for Justice ? Me neither. Reilly to go , maybe Michael Ring - Shatter a certainty to stay in any possible reshuffle.

[dob]

Little to no chance that Shatter would be moved - a steady hands on the wheel despite 'Pointsgate' earlier in 2013. No real standout alternative within the coalition - who's Labour spokesperson for Justice ? Me neither. Reilly to go , maybe Michael Ring - Shatter a certainty to stay in any possible reshuffle.

I think loyalty to enda kenny in his hour of need will keep him in place. Likewise big phil and dr Reilly. Kenny is like Bertie in this respect, unimaginative and conservative. The only Taoiseach to have a radical reshuffle was Albert Reynolds.

[Half Man and Half Dildo]

And at the very least Alan Shatter has a grounding in law, whereas some of the others need help wiping their own ass let alone being qualified for the job.

[Morpheus]

I think the main rational sane factors which can prevent Swedish model type anti sex worker and anti sex work legislation here are the basic human decency and understanding of Minister Shatter and Mr. De Valera's old constitution.
But with the likelihood of Minister Phil Hogan or at the outside Minister Reilly or Minister Quinn likely to be going to Europe as our next EU commissioner replacing MGQ (who was also quite good on this issue, understanding and stating as Minister For Justice that what consenting adults do in private is no business of the criminal law!), there will be a cabinet reshuffle.
I don't know what Enda Kenny thinks of the proposed legislation (he is known to be a decent person, so he most likely has a good understanding of the terrible consequences of such a law!), but The Fake Socialists may force his hand on Minister Shatter!
Though as a loyal supporter of the Taoiseach and the fact that he is in his dream job, I think Minister Shatter will be left where he is as Minister for Justice and Defence!

Things aren't looking good for Minister Shatter. Like him or hate him, he has definitely been a reasonble person with regard to the proposed change to legislation on prostitution. The report he commisioned turned out to be entirely biased. Fair play to him for not just implementing the one sided recommendations, even though it looks bad for him not implementing the recommendations of a report he commissioned. He has shown common sense and nerve in this regard.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if he will survive the current controversies relating to the Gardai. If he has to step down or move to a different ministry, I think it will be bad for anyone involved in the escorting industry. Most other politicians seem to have bought into the TORL propaganda.

[Paul Carr]

I think the main rational sane factors which can prevent Swedish model type anti sex worker and anti sex work legislation here are the basic human decency and understanding of Minister Shatter and Mr. De Valera's old constitution.
But with the likelihood of Minister Phil Hogan or at the outside Minister Reilly or Minister Quinn likely to be going to Europe as our next EU commissioner replacing MGQ (who was also quite good on this issue, understanding and stating as Minister For Justice that what consenting adults do in private is no business of the criminal law!), there will be a cabinet reshuffle.
I don't know what Enda Kenny thinks of the proposed legislation (he is known to be a decent person, so he most likely has a good understanding of the terrible consequences of such a law!), but The Fake Socialists may force his hand on Minister Shatter!
Though as a loyal supporter of the Taoiseach and the fact that he is in his dream job, I think Minister Shatter will be left where he is as Minister for Justice and Defence!

Maire Geoghegan Quinn was the Minister for Justice who brought in the Sexual Offences Act of 1993 that *re*criminalized the organized sex work industry in the Republic of Ireland. As a result, a sex worker indoors has to work alone to stay on the right side of the law. Street sex work similarly was re-criminalized.

[The Libertarian]

Maire Geoghegan Quinn was the Minister for Justice who brought in the Sexual Offences Act of 1993 that *re*criminalized the organized sex work industry in the Republic of Ireland. As a result, a sex worker indoors has to work alone to stay on the right side of the law. Street sex work similarly was re-criminalized.

AFAIK, she is on the Dail record at the time of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, which she put through and the bill which You speak of, as saying that what 2 consenting adults do in private is no business of the criminal law, which of course it is not, street solicitation is a different matter!
Ironically, the insane proposed changes to the law will force 'decriminalised' sex workers to ply their trade on the street alone and indeed may have implications for sex workers finding accommodation to live in (which is of course one of the many obvious unconstitutional aspects of the recent looney recommendations!).

[Paul Carr]

AFAIK, she is on the Dail record at the time of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, which she put through and the bill which You speak of, as saying that what 2 consenting adults do in private is no business of the criminal law, which of course it is not, street solicitation is a different matter!
Ironically, the insane proposed changes to the law will force 'decriminalised' sex workers to ply their trade on the street alone and indeed may have implications for sex workers finding accommodation to live in (which is of course one of the many obvious unconstitutional aspects of the recent looney recommendations!).

I wouldn't credit Fianna Fail for decriminalizing homosexuality. They dragged their feet for 5 years after the Norris decision at the European Court of Human Rights. When they finally did it, they faced zero opposition in the Dail.

Their 1993 Sexual Offences act criminalized two indoor sex workers or more working together. It was a terrible law that was an open invitation for pimps to move into the brothel business in order to "protect" the girls. The law meant that an indoor sex worker has to work alone to be on the right side of the law. This means that she has no protection from a police officer, for example, who may demand a freebie from her or protection from the rape and violence of local hooligans in the neighbourhood or uglymugs.

The Stanton Joint Oireachtas Justice committee proposals from last June, if implemented, will mean that a Landlord can be charged with recklessly allowing prostitution on his premises, a lower burden of proof than previously. This will mean that even indoor sex workers working alone can be thrown out on the street. If we go down that route, we'll be making a bad law even worse.