Concern over prostitution in roscrea and nenagh

Nenagh and Roscrea have been named among leading towns in the midlands where prostitution is occurring.

The claim has been made by the Immigrant Council of Ireland which says its recent check of escort sites on a weekday morning showed 45 women for sale in the Midlands.

“Much of the activity is based in towns such as Mullingar, Athlone, Portlaoise, Nenagh, Roscrea and Tullamore,” the council said in a statement.

It says pimps operating the prostitution rackets in the midland  will be hit hard following the decision by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to introduce laws targeting sex buyers.

“Minister Fitzgerald has taken the first step to wreck the business model for pimps and traffickers,” says the council.

It calls on  all TDs and Senators across Offaly, Laois, Tipperary and Westmeath to support the laws.

The council says the decision to target demand for prostitution and trafficking is a victory for those women who agreed to re-live the horror of their experience before the members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee in order to aid the democratic process.

Council Chief Executive Denise Charlton said: “We welcome the interest Minister Frances Fitzgerald has shown in this very important issue and her detailed examination of the evidence which shows sex buyer laws work.

“The decision to criminalise the buyer is something which the 72 members of the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign have been seeking.”

In the Midlands, the campaign is supported by members of the Irish Medical Organisation, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Macra Na Feirme, the ICA, the ICTU, Chambers Ireland and many more.

The council welcomes the decision of  the Cabinet to bring Ireland into line with strategies of the Nordic countries, Canada, the European Parliament to target those who purchase sex. Northern Ireland will have similar laws next year.