Sharon Keogan: Escort Ireland Defies Law, Calls for Debate
Sharon Keogan rose in Stormont to demand a parliamentary debate on Escort Ireland, a website she says openly advertises sexual services in breach of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 2017. She cites independent SERP research alleging trafficking indicators and organised transnational activity and calls for action.
Platform and alleged illegality: Keogan sets out concerns that Escort Ireland operates to advertise sexual services aimed at Ireland in direct defiance of the 2017 law. She describes it as a large, profitable enterprise that reportedly charges fees for adverts while hosting hundreds of listings targeted at the jurisdiction.
Research and trafficking indicators: Keogan references the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute (SERP), which found hundreds of women advertised daily and identified multiple internationally recognised indicators of trafficking and sexual exploitation in online profiles. She highlights that the majority advertised are young migrant women, many with limited English.
Organised cross-border activity: The speaker notes company records showing the operation moved from London to Spain and now trades through a Spanish registered company with multi-million euro revenues. Keogan frames the site as organised transnational activity rather than casual online behaviour and questions enforcement of the law against those who organise, advertise or profit.
On online abuse of a colleague: Keogan also addresses online abuse directed at Senator Eileen Flynn, condemning racist and personal attacks and defending the Senator's right to be in the chamber. She says criticism should be of opinions, not the person, and that such abuse damages public discourse.
Call for parliamentary debate: Keogan ends by formally calling for a debate in the chamber to discuss the continued operation of platforms that she argues mock the law and to consider how enforcement and protections for vulnerable women can be strengthened.
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I rise to speak on the issue that has been raised today in Stormont. I am referring to the website commonly known as Escort Ireland. Now the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act 2017 criminalises the purchase of sex in this jurisdiction. Yet this platform exists for one clear purpose to advertise sexual services to be bought here in direct defiance of that law. It is not a marginal operation. It is a large, highly profitable enterprise reportedly charging weekly fees for advertisements while hosting hundreds of listings aimed squarely at Ireland. Public reporting has identified individuals linked to this operation who have passed criminal convictions for pimping. Company records show that the business was relocated from London to Spain where it now trades through a Spanish registered company reporting multi-million euro revenues. This is organised transnational activity, not casual online behaviour. These concerns are now underlined by serious independent research. The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, SERP, who have called on our Minister for Justice to take action reports stark findings. Hundreds of women are advertised daily across the island of Ireland on these platforms with over 900 on a single site. The majority are young migrant women, many with limited English. In a four-week analysis, SERP identified 19 of 28 internationally recognised indicators of trafficking and sexual exploitation within online profiles. Women presented as independent escorts are in reality often controlled by organised crime groups that dominate the sex trade. These websites provide anonymity for buyers, pimps and traffickers while generating millions in profit. If the law cannot reach those who openly organise, advertise or profit from the breach of our laws, then we must ask ourselves who exactly is the law for? So therefore I call for a debate in this chamber to discuss these issues because the continued existence of the website is nothing short of a mockery on our laws. Now on another item, I would also like to address the online abuse received by my colleague here Senator Eileen Flynn. While I myself disagree with a number of Senator Flynn's opinions, I restrict my criticisms to the opinions and not of the woman herself. Commons on Senator Flynn's background as a member of the travelling community, the way she dresses, the way she speaks are racist, deplorable and worst of all intellectually bankrupt. She was the most voted female Senator in this chamber and she has as much right to be here as any of us. I commend her and I hope she doesn't take any of that rubbish to heart. I am a believer in free speech and debate but such comments and abuse hurt our national discourse and most of all let down those who say them.
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