Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

How many files are with the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration? Will the Minister comment on the report produced by the US State Department which states the Government of Ireland does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking? The report focuses on two issues. It refers to the lack of any prosecution or conviction in the reporting period, although I note the Minister indicated that one prosecution is pending, and is critical of the identification of victims and protection afforded to them.

Under the Government's anti-human trafficking plan, the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, will house suspected victims of human trafficking. Given that 70% of suspected victims are residents of asylum or Health Service Executive hostels and, according to a report produced by a Galway rape crisis centre, 20% or one in five of the women who reported rape or abuse were asylum seekers, a group which makes up only 1% of the population of Galway, is the Minister satisfied that RIA is the appropriate agency to deal with this matter?

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