There was a little 'outrage' in 2015 in response to the opening of a new sex shop, PlayBlue in Drumcondra. This resulted in a council motion asking for new sex shops to be banned from opening within 3km of a primary school. Somewhat belatedly, the
motion finally came up for debate this week. It was noted that a 3km exclusion zone would effectively ban all new shops. A concept enthusiastically accepted by some councillors. Others opposed the ban. Social Democrat Gary Gannon said:
I was aware that there was a backlog of motions, but this seems to be backlogged from the 1950s.
He said he'd be eager to talk about displays and sex positivity, healthy body images, and consent. But
not casting those who go to sex shops as somehow disturbed, adding: I don't think it supports who we are as a modern republic. A compromise position of a 250m exclusion zone was accepted and the change would now need to be incorporated into
the city development plan, at a later stage. |