Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

It is clear from the reply that four quite separate categories of action are required to satisfy the international convention. It would shorten the period in which ratification would be possible if the protection and care of the victim were included in the fundamental Act prohibiting trafficking, that is, the one directed at the criminal law. If one must wait for the immigration, residency and protection Bill followed by ministerial order followed by administrative practice, one is talking about a timescale of potential ratification, particularly of the European convention, that is unnecessarily delaying and cumbersome. Would the Minister of State consider making a recommendation to Cabinet and his colleague in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to facilitate the amendment on Committee Stage of the basic Bill outlawing trafficking so as to achieve an earlier ratification?

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