Editing Lap dance (section)

===Ireland===
In the early 2000s, lap dancing expanded rapidly in the [[Republic of Ireland]], building on an existing [[strip pub]] industry. A number of lap-dancing clubs were opened in Dublin, including one by the English nightclub owner [[Peter Stringfellow]]. Lap-dancing clubs were also opened across the country.  Many of Ireland's lap-dancing clubs have subsequently closed as a result of the worsened economic climate and changes to Ireland's licensing laws in 2008. Reputational issues have also played a part in the decline of Ireland's lap-dancing clubs.

Police raids took place on Irish lap-dancing clubs in 2003 in search of criminal activity as part of [[Operation Quest]]. Efforts to distance Irish lap dancing from the [[sex industry]] were hampered by the UK's decision in 2010 to classify its lap dancing clubs as sex establishments. Ireland's lap-dancing clubs became viewed as more expensive than their rivals overseas and more restricted in terms of the entertainment on offer. By 2012 there were five or six clubs operating in Dublin, one in Galway and one in Cork. Most lap-dancing clubs in Ireland operate a no-touching rule, and typically do not charge dancers a "house fee" to perform, instead taking a proportion of the dancer's earnings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Life as a lap dancer|url=https://www.independent.ie/style/sex-relationships/life-as-a-lap-dancer-28891041.html|newspaper=Independent.ie|location=Ireland|date=7 October 2012|author=Catherine Murphy|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>