DUBLIN, Ireland—While the Irish government considers whether to regulate adult shops throughout the country, documents recently released through the Freedom Of Information Act show similar proposals failed in the past because of disagreements between government departments.
According to RTE News, the media outlet that used FOIA to request documents, an interdepartmental group called the Adult Entertainment Task Force recommended in 2009 that a licensing system for adult stores should be included in casino regulations, but the Department of Justice—which was preparing gambling regulations at the time—said it was not something that could be considered.
Despite the proposal from the AETF and the response from the DOJ, no final decision was ever made and no formal action ever taken.
The issue has resurfaced, however, following the release of the documents as well as recent controversy when a shop tried to open in Drumcondra, Dublin.
Robert Doyle, one of the people who tried to open the shop, said the proposals to regulate such stores are “senseless.”
“If we were selling something that was hurting people, maybe,” he told TheJournal.ie, “But it’s really a case of trying to shut the door after the horse has bolted.”
Doyle also noted that many items are even sold in more mainstream outlets.
“You can walk into Boots and buy a mini-vibrator, and most pubs have vending machines selling cock rings,” he told the news agency.
As it stands, adult shops are now treated the same as any other business under existing planning laws. While the 2009 proposals for adult shops are making headlines in the country, there are currently no similar proposals before the government, although Minister of State Paudie Coffey recently said it was “unclear” whether they might need to be treated differently.
