The review of the law governing sex work is “not worth the paper it's written on”, the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland has said.

The group said State bodies have taken a “cowardly approach”, while the Government ignores the health and safety of a vulnerable population.

Spokesperson Linda Kavanagh said sex workers don't believe they were listened to - and the long-awaited review was flawed from the start.

“[Sex workers] feel a huge amount of stigma in Ireland, violence has increased, they're forced to work alone, to work illegally, so there's a huge amount of isolation within the community,” she said.

“We have been pushing for this review for seven years, and now when it comes out, it is just so disappointing that sex workers have not been listened to about the reality of their lives.”

Sticker reading 'Sex Work Is Work - Decriminalize Sex Work' seen on a lamp post in Dublin, during the COVID-19 lockdown. 16 April 2021 (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

In a press release discussing this review, the Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI) said that “no weight” has been given to the voices of currently active sex workers in this review and “there is scant evidence” that sex workers were properly engaged in this process.

“The onus is on the Department of Justice to do this and SWAI raised this concern during forum discussions,” the press release said.

“From the initial survey to this final report, the review has taken the stance that the law is in and of itself a positive thing.

“SWAI fundamentally disagrees with this position and is supported by extensive evidence that sex workers are harmed by these laws.”

Respect Sex Workers Sign in Red Light District of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Image: Alamy

SWAI have also raised concerns about an increase in Garda surveillance of sex workers.

“Is the Department of Justice going to ignore how Gardaí have abused their powers?” the organisation asked.

“Minister O’Callaghan has admitted that demand for the purchase of sex hasn’t been reduced, so we ask, how can this report say that the law has made progress towards its objectives?”

SWAI claim their concerns about brothel-keeping laws, that are echoed by sex workers, have been dismissed.

They claim this is because the review has said “the official statistics identify a shift away from the targeting of the seller to the purchaser”.

Prostitute lying on a bed. Image: Tero Vesalainen / Alamy Stock Photo

“Only 15 people have been prosecuted for purchasing sex,” SWAI said.

“This also overlooks the fact that brothel-keeping raids and welfare checks to disrupt sex workers don't end in convictions, but the consequences for sex workers are severe.

“Gardaí are still targeting sex workers in this way.”

SWAI has said the “myopic approach” to sex work by Government creates “a feedback loop” that means that the State is “praised for actions by organisations that do not engage with sex workers in meaningful ways”.

Sex workers leaning in to car. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)