The long-awaited review into Ireland's sex work legislation, promised for years, remains elusive, with the Department of Justice dragging its feet yet again. Despite repeated assurances, the report won't see the light of day until later this year, causing frustration and anger among stakeholders.
Staff at the Department of Justice, apparently suffering from chronic procrastination, have been handed the responsibility of completing this overdue report. Justice Minister Helen McEntee's confirmation of its completion by Q3 is nothing but a feeble attempt to pacify mounting criticism.
Summer of 2021 saw solicitor Maura Butler SC appointed to oversee the review, with a promise to deliver within three months. But as usual, excuses piled up, with delays ranging from Butler's diversion to another review on murder-suicides to the apparent disappearance of the report into a bureaucratic abyss.
Recent reports hint at the Department of Justice scrambling to find ways to release the report "without any further undue delay," as if they weren't responsible for the delay in the first place.
McEntee's latest strategy? Delegate the task to the Data and Research Unit, hoping they can weave some semblance of coherence out of the chaos that has become of this review process. This bureaucratic runaround is a slap in the face to transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (SWAI) rightly condemns this perpetual stalling and the Department's blatant disregard for engaging with stakeholders, particularly those most affected by these laws—sex workers themselves.
SWAI demands not just answers but action. Their call for a new review underscores the deep-seated frustration with a system that consistently sidelines the voices of those it purports to protect.
The current legislation, criminalizing the purchase of sexual services, fails to address the real issues faced by sex workers, leaving them vulnerable and marginalized. SWAI's plea for total decriminalization is not just a suggestion; it's a necessity for ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved in sex work.
In her response to a parliamentary question, McEntee echoes the tired rhetoric of prostitution being inherently exploitative, conveniently ignoring the complexities of the issue and the voices of sex workers themselves. It's a disappointing display of ignorance and a failure to acknowledge the urgent need for reform.
The 2017 Sexual Offences Act was touted as a step forward in protecting vulnerable individuals, yet its shortcomings are glaring. It's time for the government to stop paying lip service to the issue and take meaningful action to address the concerns of sex workers and their advocates. Anything less is a betrayal of trust and a perpetuation of injustice.