Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We welcome the delegation from the Slovak Republic.

Irrespective of what happens elsewhere, how soon does the Taoiseach think there could be a referendum on the constitution in this country? Last December, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to freeze accession negotiations with Turkey in eight of the 35 legislative areas. These areas included free movement of goods, rights of establishment and freedom to provide financial services and so on. Did the Taoiseach discuss with his counterparts when these negotiations might restart? What are the procedures in place to monitor Turkey's compliance with EU demands? Are concerns being expressed about Turkish relations with the Kurdish people? Concerns have been expressed about the Kurdish people, Sunnis and Shias further east, in Iraq and Iran.

A case was raised in the national media a few days ago of a young Zambian girl who was brought into this country under a false passport and was repeatedly raped by a Zambian national, who has since been jailed. At the last European Council meeting, the question of migration was discussed. This was also raised at the EPP meetings that I attended on illegal immigration and migration to Europe. I understand Ireland is one of the last countries in which human trafficking is not a crime. It would appear from anecdotal evidence that there has been a significant amount of human trafficking in Ireland, which is something the Government should seriously examine. If human trafficking is not a specific crime in Ireland, then we should make it such. It is an appalling abuse of human rights and human dignity. Was this issue raised in discussions with the Taoiseach? Does he have a concern about it? Has the Government any intention of introducing a Bill to make the trafficking of human beings a very serious offence? It would send out a clear signal that such human degradation would not be tolerated any more.

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