Concern at growth in Irish sex industry

Ruhama, the organisation working with women involved in prostitution, has said people who pay women for sex should know that a big proportion of that money is going to criminal gangs.

The charity is taking part in the Labour Party forum on trafficking and the sex industry, which is being held in Kilkenny today.

Ruhama expressed particular concern that the growth in the sex industry in Ireland had extended nationwide.

It says the planned opening of a new lap-dancing club in Kilkenny City is indicative of the nationwide growth of the sex industry and its re-branding as a form of entertainment.

Trafficking Routes

Ireland is a transit and destination country for trafficking in women and children, mainly for women and girls from Eastern Europe, Africa, and South America.

Factors That Contribute to the Trafficking Infrastructure

Evidence suggests that organized criminal gangs are helping international traffickers establish trafficking routes in Ireland.1 Links between the Irish sex industry and the Russian mafia have been reported. Of particular concern to the Irish police, known as Gardai, is the growing presence of Russian and Albanian mafias.

Gangs based in Estonia and Latvia have also allegedly trafficked women to Ireland. Gardai have also suspected the involvement of former Irish republican terrorists in the sex industry.

Forms of Trafficking

Trafficking appears to be a growing problem in Ireland. Most trafficking appears to be for the commercial sex industry. One organization recently reported that it has started to receive calls on its domestic violence hotline from women trafficked into the country and forced into prostitution. Although the volume of calls has been limited, it may represent a “new and worrying trend.” According to a local nongovernmental organization (NGO), about 70 women were trafficked into Ireland for the sex industry in 2003.

Up to 1,000 women are estimated to be in the sex trade in the country, many of whom were brought in illegally from South America and Eastern Europe.

Compared with that of other European capitals, the sex industry in Dublin is relatively small and new. There is concern that this situation could be changing, however.

As many as 40 children a year are being trafficked to Ireland for either economic or sexual exploitation, according to a recent International Organization for Migration report. Children between 3 and 17 years of age are being trafficked for a variety of reasons—for the sex industry, as child brides, or as workers in the underground economy.

Child-trafficking investigations mainly deal with children from Romania, the former Yugoslavia, and the coastal countries of West Africa.

Nigerian children are reportedly brought into Ireland to work in the sex industry.

In 2003, Irish peacekeepers were accused of hiring local women in prostitution in Eritrea, including a 15-year-old girl. The central allegation is that a number of local women in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, accepted money from Irish soldiers in return for sex. One Irish solider was sent home in 2002 after a woman appeared on Eritrean television, saying that she had made a pornographic film with him.

Government Responses

Protests are expected this evening when Kilkenny's first-ever lap-dancing club opens its doors to customers.

The club received approval at the District Court last Tuesday despite opposition from local residents, politicians and Gardai.

The matter has now been referred to An Bord Pleanala, which is expected to issue a ruling in the next six weeks.

Until then, the club will be allowed to operate on Parliament Street, with opening time scheduled for 5pm today.

Pole-dancing club may fuel sex trade warns Mayor

By Deirdre O'Reilly

Kilkenny's first citizen Mayor Marie Fitzpatrick has expressed her concern that the opening of Kilkenny's first pole-dancing club on Parliament Street tomorrow could assist in the trafficking of women for the sex trade.

The Mayor was speaking following the granting of an ad interim licence to Whispers Entertainment Ltd to open a pole-dancing club at Kilkenny District Court on Tuesday morning. Whispers Entertainment Ltd are now due to open their doors for business in the Widow McGrath's Pub on Parliament Street tomorrow, Friday January 25 at 5pm.

"The Government is very concerned about the amount of people being trafficked in to Ireland for the sex trade and I'm wondering if any of the women working in the pole-dancing club would come from that environment," said Mayor Marie Fitzpatrick.

Solicitor for Whispers Entertainment Ltd, Patrick Casey, declined to comment in detail when questioned about this issue.

"I can confirm that the club is opening for business in Kilkenny on Friday and the owners look forward to running it in a business-like manner, as they have been doing in Waterford for the last four years without any difficulty. During that time the business hasn't received any garda complaints, convictions or prosecutions," said Mr Casey.

"It's the beginning of the end for Kilkenny city. I'm very saddened and disappointed by the decision to grant a licence, but it is now out of our hands," added Mayor Fitzpatrick. " I'm sure there will be more applications for this type of licence in the future."

"It's also going to take a lot from the tourist trade that we depend on here, as well as adding fuel to the drinking culture. I also believe the crime rate for assaults on women will go up.

"I know people will think I'm being old fashioned, but someone has to stand up for morals. I'm not an old prude, I'm not anti-social and I'm not against alcohol. It's just the long-term effects for Kilkenny city I'm concerned about," reiterated the Mayor.

However, not everyone shares the same opinion. Manager of the Watergate Theatre Ger Cody doesn't think the pole-dancing club will have a major effect on the local theatre which is located across the street from the new club.

"If it wasn't for all the publicity many people wouldn't even be aware of it," he said. "Whoever wants to use it, they'll find it and for those who don't want to use it, life will go on."

"I remember the exact same debate when the adult sex shop was planning to open on Parliament Street," said Fine Gael Cllr Pat Crotty. "It's not even a storm in a tea cup and in six month's time people won't even remember it."

"If 'Whispers' is put on a sign over the door it will cause a lot less of a furore than the sign for the 'Drunken Mexican,' a restaurant that has since closed but caused controversy at the time," commented Cllr Crotty.

Superintendant Pat Mangan declined to comment on the granting of the licence which gives the owners of the lap-dancing club temporary authority to trade until the renewal of the annual licences takes place in September.

A decision on the application for a transfer of the licence from the former Widow McGrath's pub on Parliament Street had been adjourned until January 22 by Kilkenny District Court for the second time on January 10, subject to a report from the Kilkenny Fire Services.

Engineer Gerard Sexton confirmed that the building was now fully compliant and that the owners had taken the necessary steps to comply with the requirements of the fire inspector's report.

Counsel for Kilkenny Borough Council also told the court that they had not received a reply from An Bord Pleanála having referred the matter to them on January 3.

The local authority is seeking an opinion from the planning authority as to whether or not the application from Whispers Entertainment constitutes 'a development' which would indicate a change of use of the premises. Superintendant Pat Mangan told the court on Tuesday morning that a response from the planning authority is expected within six weeks.

Judge Harnett advised counsel for Whispers Entertainment Ltd, Solicitor Patrick Casey that if they were found to be in breach of planning laws then the situation may be difficult for them. "If it transpires that An Bord Pleanála gives the wrong colour smoke it could be a difficulty for you. You could face a raft of legitimate objections in September," said Judge Harnett.

"The applicant can't go on waiting indefinitely for the musings of An Bord Pleanála until it transpires that the applicant is incorrect in his interpretation of the planning laws," added Judge Harnett.