Sex work is driven by ‘desperation and vulnerability’ and calls for it to be treated like a normal job are ‘nonsense, Ciara Kelly has said.

It comes after the leader of the new Independent Ireland party called for sex work to be legalised because sex workers are “providing a service”.

Independent TD Michael Collins made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with Hot Press magazine in which he also called for the introduction of chemical castration for rapists and paedophiles.

The Cork South-West TD said he hopes the new party can field up to 50 candidates in the upcoming local elections – and aims to win up to 15 seats when the time comes for a general election.

Sex workers outside Leinster House in 2014 urge Government not to criminalise the purchase of sex in Ireland, 17-12-2024. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

He called sex work the “oldest profession in the world”.

“I think people that are trafficking these people in here need to be gone after – but some people are in difficult positions financially and they're not in one way hurting anybody,” he said.

“And they’re providing a service.”

Exploitation

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, presenter Ciara Kelly said: “The same argument could be made for slavery, to be perfectly honest,” before adding: “I don't like it.”

“I am fully aware that there are many people who would fall under the same heading as myself - as a feminist - who believe that sex work is work and we shouldn't be against it and we should treat it like a normal job,” she said.

“I don't believe that for a moment.

“I believe it is deeply exploitative to exploit women's bodies and women's orifices as a form of a job.

“I hate the idea of it and I reject it wholly.

“I also think it is very important that we point out that the vast majority of women who work as sex workers in this country … are trafficked.

“They are from the Middle East, they are from Eastern Europe; they are here, their passports have been taken [and] it is run by organised criminals.”

'Desperation and vulnerability'

Ciara said the reality is that sex work is driven by “desperation and vulnerability”.

“There are some things that, to me, are a line in the sand and bodily autonomy and bodily integrity and the dignity of the human person is completely corroded, in my view, by sex work,” she said.

“I believe it to be deeply exploitative of vulnerable women in the main - because there aren't all these happy-go-lucky women going, ‘Oh, it's great, I made a few bob; I paid the bills’ – that is nonsense.

“It is not wealthy, educated women with choices that do this,” she continued. “It is, to me, grossly exploitative.”

When it was put to her that many sex workers believe our current laws put them in further danger, Ciara noted that Amsterdam is “full of trafficked women,” despite the fact that sex work is legal and regulated in the Netherlands.