Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Human trafficking, which is an important issue for Ireland and the European Union, featured in the conclusions of this month's meeting of the European Council. It was listed as one of the areas in which the EU can deliver concrete results to benefit the citizens of the EU. The Council's conclusions express its determination to pursue the fight against human trafficking by fully utilising the resources of Eurojust, Europol and the task force of police chiefs. The issue of human trafficking was also considered at the most recent meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which examined the draft conclusions of the European Council. Article 5 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights prohibits trafficking in human beings. In 2004, the EU adopted a Council framework decision on combating trafficking in persons. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has primary responsibility for what is first and foremost a criminal justice matter, is preparing legislation to criminalise trafficking for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation.

A specific action plan to deal with trafficking in human beings was adopted by the European Council last December. The plan, which is wide-ranging, covers areas such as the co-ordination of EU action, the prevention of trafficking and the prosecution of offences linked to trafficking. The implementation of the plan has been actively pursued by the Justice and Home Affairs Council, in which Ireland is represented by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Under this country's existing criminal law, it is an offence to traffic a male or female person under 17 years of age for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The offence is punishable by up to life imprisonment.

I would like to refer to the work being done in this regard in international fora other than the EU. Human trafficking has been dealt with by the Council of Europe. That organisation's negotiations on the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings concluded last year. The convention, which was opened for signature in Warsaw on 16 May 2005, aims to prevent and combat trafficking in people in all its forms. A similar action plan was endorsed by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in December 2003. Ireland is a signatory to the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and its two accompanying protocols on smuggling and on the prevention, suppression and punishment of human trafficking. The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided over €1.7 million, through Irish Aid, for anti-trafficking projects carried out by the International Labour Organisation and a respected non-governmental organisation, under the leadership of the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan.

Human trafficking is receiving considerable attention at EU and international levels. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has raised it in bilateral contacts with his EU counterparts. He and I will continue to use relevant bilateral meetings to highlight our concerns in respect of this serious matter.

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