Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
NEW LAWS DESIGNED to protect prostitutes by criminalising the buyers of sex came into force today much to the relief of a number of organisations.
Turn Off The Red Light, an umbrella group of charities and groups against the selling of sex, described the commencement of the laws as “an historic day” which they believe will help “vulnerable women, children and men in prostitution access support”.
Spokeswoman for Turn Off The Red Light, Denise Charlton, said today is important because, for the first time, those involved in prostitution will no longer be criminalised by the law but instead protected by it.
“From today, the Irish State is finally telling those sexually exploited through prostitution: ‘You are not to blame. You are not at fault. You are the victim here and we will protect you.’ From today, the law will instead focus on the pimps and traffickers who currently profit to the tune of €250 million from the sex trade,” she added.
However, there are those who have been vehemently opposed to the bill. The Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (SWAI) had said that the laws will not stop prostitution but will instead force women to operate in more clandestine way, thus increasing the likelihood of women being abused.
Concerns
According to the group, their biggest concern is the safety of sex workers, particularly the most vulnerable.
They said that laws which criminalise the purchase of sex “do not magically create options for the migrants, trans people, single parents and others who turn to sex work in order to survive”.
Spokeswoman Kate McGrew said: “The Government’s moral crusade was driven by ideology not evidence. National and international expert groups provided clear evidence that criminalisation of the purchase of sex is not only ineffective but would be harmful to the health and safety of sex workers across Ireland.
Today, our thoughts are with the most vulnerable sex workers, who will be forced to take greater and greater risks in order to keep the clients they depend upon: those who will drop their prices, those who will agree to unprotected sex, those who will agree to go to an unknown location, and avoid calling the gardaí when attacked or afraid.
“We encourage all sex workers to get in contact with SWAI to get support and information on their rights under the new law. We can be contacted by phone 085 8249305 or email info@swai.eu.”
These are views not shared by Turn Off The Red Light, a group supported by the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Ruhama as well as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.
In fact, Mia de Faoite, who survived working as a prostitute, said she knows how important this law is.
“It will mean nothing unless we ensure those currently enduring sexual exploitation know they have these protections. The emphasis from today must be on working to reach them to let them know society cares about them and that they no longer need fear criminalisation,” she added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
No wonder when they are forcing it down your gob at every opportunity.
Exactly! At one point they forced people into installing Windows 10 by automatically including it in windows updates…
Most older laptops will have driver issues in Windows 10
Went back to Windows 8, 10 had nothing but faults.
If you think that going back to Windows 8 will solve any issues then the problem bay be between chair and keyboard!
I always used to use Windows but then I downloaded Linux Mint which is free originates in Ireland and I find it much faster and not bloated for my old computer. But to each his own, its good to have the choice of Windows or Linux.
Mint is a great choice
Totally agree Stephen it is easy to use too and not much worries about viruses.
Mint is very good especially jumping across from Windows
Depends on what you’re after really. Big fan of linux but there are some things that just aren’t available for it.
For a long time linux distros were a lot less user friendly and they’ve really gotten over that now for the most part.
It’s the absolute business for breathing life into an older comp…
I will stick with El Capitan thanks.
And another 10 million using windows 7 are being forced to upgrade because of computer shutdown/windows update problems. Systems wont update, wont shut down “for some strange reason”
Finally. Microsoft is making a comeback. Take that Apple!
I’d definitely buy surface pro before a mac. Never been a fan of apple and how restrictive it is. Anyway not that it matters because I can’t afford either…
Macs run like a dream.
Windows 10 !!!! :( …bring back windows 3.1
XP was the best windows release ever in my opinion, and runs like a dream on later laptop’s if you can live without the technical support.
Yup even the cracked copies of windows are getting upgrades.
Completely destroyed my hard drive!! It happened to approximately 10% of downloads in Ireland have driver issues after installing. Advice from Microsoft was basically tough luck
I went back to windows 8 because 10 just didnt run well on my laptop. Its not by any means an old laptop and it has good specs but windows 10 seemed to slow everything down and was sending my fan into overdrive.
It wouldn’t let me turn off my laptop. It was only 6 months old. Hated Windows 10. 8 is much better.
Probably should never do an upgrade of an operating system. Always do a clean install
In having the same issue. Usually put my laptop to sleep but it keeps turning it on again which means I have to shut it down completely
Anyone who doesn’t have €1000 for a laptop has to buy a Windows PC, this is hardly a ringing endorsement. It’s a monopoly, that’s all.
Get rid of the apps. Nobody cares about them on a desktop. People like Windows because of what it is or was.
They were always apps they just had more letters once upon a time ;)
Force people to upgrade and then are delighted that people do
Great when it works but a nightmare when it does not
Wonder how many people who do not known much about computers
did a backup of data and made a rescue media in case it all went wrong
Like everything Microsoft does
When it works then it is fine
When it goes wrong then it really f*#ks up
Way better with Linux
I have a non touch screen laptop with Windows 7 Pro and Office 2010. I can use Dragon Noturally Speaking Professional 13 and it does what I need it to do.
I bought a Windows 10 laptop, lots of RAM, high processor speed, SSD etc. I opted for Office 2016.
The new system is unstable and unusable. Dragon Naturally Speaking 13 is incompatible with Windows 10. Office 2016 is flakey. It’s more stable when I uninstalled Dragon but I need voice dictation because I have rheumatoid arthritis and my fingers often are too painful for significant keyboarding.
So, I went back to the old laptop, Dragon continues to work with Windows 7 and I can do what I need to do. It’s a pleasure to use.
I’m sure that 99.99% of PC users need Windows 10 for its super powerful functionality and for the millions of things that Windows 10 can do in everyday life that Windows 7 can’t do but Windows 7 does what I need to do and Windows 10 does not.
If you’re having issues with it simply throw it in the bin & buy a Mac. Problem solved
And risk having to use iTunes. No thanks!
Not to mention the cost. No thanks!
You get what you pay for. Having used windows for years at minimal cost would much rather pay for every last bit with my Mac. No comparison.
200 million people accidentally clicking on the persistent in your face option to upgrade to that rubbish operating system & 200 million utter regrets…..
The start button opens a limited menu, used to open everything now it’s a right click to get documents, any ideas??
You can fully customize the start menu
and put shortcuts to documents and whatever else you require
Just right-click an app or folder and click pin to start
You can then arrange them how you see fit
this link will help you
http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/how-to-customize-the-windows-10-start-menu/
Call me old school but just bring back xp lol
Iv upgraded for people multiple times. The oldest machine being a 5yr old laptop. Never once had any issues so i’m surprised by the amount of complaints here.
Amazing how a company can recruit 20 million testers & not have to pay a cent in wages. Brilliant.
have your say