Sir, — I refer to David Walsh’s letter (January 3rd) in which he asserts that the TEEU has some questions to answer in relation to our support for the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign and whether we consulted our members on the issue.
The TEEU delegates to the March 2010 Women’s Conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) held in Belfast put forward a motion “that the trade union movement should redouble its efforts in winning support for this important campaign, as the human trafficking and the exploitation of adults and children in the sex industry . . . is contrary to basic human rights and is in contravention of ILO [International Labour Organisation] conventions”. The motion was debated and adopted.
The TEEU policy conference held later that year adopted a similar motion, the text of which was circulated in advance to 200 delegates from all facets of Irish society. It was debated in workshops to maximise delegate input.
The TEEU then joined other unions and civil society organisations to seek new laws in Ireland to protect such vulnerable people.
There are currently 66 such organisations affiliated to the Turn Off the Red Light campaign, such as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Macra na Feirme and the Union of Students in Ireland. These can hardly be described as either radical feminist or religious fundamentalist organisations, as characterised by Mr Walsh. – Yours, etc,
EAMON DEVOY,
General Secretary,
TEEU,
Gardiner Row,
Dublin 1.