Ms Louise Synnott:

There have been developments in more recent times. Operation Quest investigated organised prostitution that was historically behind trafficking of women into this country for sexual and labour exploitation. The organised prostitution investigation unit was set up nationally under the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, GNPSB. It is working with the Department of Justice and with the new Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, looking at the definition of trafficking and the mechanisms for identifying people who have been trafficked, in collaboration with both State and non-State partners, as Mr. Dhala referenced earlier. An Garda Síochána is disappointed in the downgrading by the American authorities of Ireland and Ireland’s status in trafficking in human persons.