Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I recall debating this matter approximately one year ago with a British Conservative MEP who made the point that we could not possibly legislate for temporary residency permits for victims of trafficking because there would be a queue of people willing to give evidence on the basis that their residency applications would be fast-tracked. That argument is nonsensical and relates to the law of unintended consequences.

The Minister stated that, on one hand, he is willing to put in place administrative arrangements to ensure that people can obtain temporary residency but that, on the other, he cannot deal with the matter in law because people might give evidence on the basis of obtaining such residency. That is a complete contradiction. If the Minister is legislating in respect of this matter and putting in place temporary measures to ensure that it will happen, why is it not possible to make provision in respect of it in the Bill? If it is going to be dealt with in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, why is it not possible to make provision in respect of it in the Bill before us? I do not understand why the matter cannot be dealt with in this legislation. If we deal with it now, the Bill will, in the context of human trafficking, be much more comprehensive.

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