Sir, – Ivana Bacik is incorrect to suggest Ireland is adopting the Swedish model on prostitution which "decriminalises the women engaged in prostitution; only the clients face criminal charges" (May 31st).
The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill is not repealing the current ancillary offences that criminalise (or can criminalise) prostitutes , that is, living on the immoral earnings of prostitution, or the offence of brothel-keeping.
It is, therefore, a sui generis Irish model that criminalises both parties. Whatever the merits or demerits of this proposal, can we at least be clear in exactly what it is proposed? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN DINEEN, LLM
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – As part of the lobby group that finally persuaded the Oireachtas Justice Committee to hear just two current sex workers who were foreign nationals, I respectfully challenge Senator Ivana Bacik’s arguments.The “extensive research” into sex work alluded to consisted almost entirely in hearing NGOs that have little or no relationship with sex workers or the sex industry because their attitudes and misconceptions have made them unwelcome to sex workers.
The committee’s “extensive research” into solutions consisted almost entirely in listening to a Swedish government PR team selling a legislative form that, as adopted by neighbouring Norway, Amnesty concluded was a human rights abuse.
Ms Bacik claims that the Swedish law “decriminalises the women engaged in prostitution; only the clients face criminal charges”. She says “this approach, proven to be effective in reducing demand, recognises the inherently unequal nature of prostitution”.
The proposed Sexual Offences Bill similarly recognises this inequality by offering sex buyers a stiff fine, and transferring the penalty for the most vulnerable sex workers soliciting to section 8 of the Public Order Act and increasing it to six months’ imprisonment on the first offence.
Nothing about any of this represents the most basic logic, justice or common sense. – Yours, etc,
GAYE DALTON ,
Donard,
Co Wicklow.