Law change on strip clubs sought

Members of local authorities throughout the State are expected to call for changes to the planning laws to make it more difficult to open lap-dancing or strip clubs.

The Association of City and County Councils (ACCC) will debate a motion brought by Dublin City councillor Emer Costello at its first meeting of the year, on February 1st, in Dublin.

It will call on the Minister for the Environment "to introduce legislation to regulate the planning aspects of the 'adult entertainment' industry so that planning permission be required for all adult entertainment retail and dance outlets".

At present anyone seeking to open a lap-dancing or strip club is simply required to get a bar and a dance licence.

Ms Costello, who represents Dublin's north inner-city where Stringfellow's lap-dancing club is due to open in the next fortnight, tabled the motion at the city council last autumn where it was passed with a large majority.

She says she has support from councillors across the State for the motion.

"This is becoming an issue right across the country. The 'adult entertainment' industry is a growing industry here and it is totally unregulated."

She said she had heard from councillors in Galway and Cork who were also concerned at their apparent powerlessness to regulate where such clubs could open.

"We can't ban these clubs, but residents around where they are opening have legitimate concerns and they should have a right to have those concerns taken on board."

Chairman of the ACCC Michael O'Brien said he expected the motion to be passed "unanimously" at the meeting in the Mansion House next month.

"It is very much an issue around the country. There are concerns about the exploitation of women and unease with how easy it is for people to open these clubs.

"The ACCC has regular meetings with the Minister for the Environment as a window to bring the views and feelings on the ground to Government".