Ireland could end up as the new “red light district of Europe” if an urgent review of prostitution laws is not carried out, Fine Gael’s immigration spokesman has warned.
“As Europe tightens its prostitution laws, so too must Ireland,” said Denis Naughten TD. “The Amsterdam authorities are closing up a third of its red light district after the liberal policy on prostitution failed to prevent organised crime and human trafficking elements from operating,” he added. “Norway and Sweden have outlawed the buying of such services from a prostitute. The UK has now introduced legislation which will also hit the demand end of prostitution.
The UK proposal, which Naughten says is likely to be law before Christmas, “will punish those who buy sex from trafficked women. Ignorance to the fact that the woman was trafficked will not stand up in court.”
He concluded: “This will immediately hit the demand end of this illegal industry in both Britain and Northern Ireland, forcing illegal traffickers south of the border to the Republic where our laws are more lax.”
Up to 65 victims were trafficked into Ireland for exploitation in the last 12 months, with human rights groups describing this figure as “the tip of the iceberg”.
