Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for sharing her time with us. I am glad to get the opportunity to make a small contribution to tonight's debate. Human trafficking is an affront to each and every one us and all sides of the House are agreed and unified on that. The Government takes the issue of human trafficking seriously. I also thank Deputy Naughten for putting forward the motion because it raises awareness, which is extremely important.

We all in Wexford, like the Leas-Ceann Comhairle, are acutely aware of the awful tragedy that unfolded there in 2001 when stowaways were put on a truck in Belgium. Thirteen people who were looking forward to coming to Ireland for a bright future and what they thought would have been a new start for their families were told the journey would take three hours. However, four days later the container arrived in Drinagh in Wexford. The awful tragedy unfolded on the opening of the container when it was found that there were eight people dead, including three children, and only five survived. It puts a face on, and brings a dose of reality to, the difficulty encountered by these people who come to Ireland for a better life and find themselves in an appalling situation and taken advantage of.

Also last year Wexford featured on a "Panorama" programme which looked at the trafficking of individuals across Europe. Wexford featured because an individual from Bulgaria interviewed alluded to the fact that he was using Rosslare and Ireland as a backdoor to bring people into the UK. It goes to show how organised, well financed and highly mobile are these people. Once there is significant money involved people are prepared to take advantage of people who perhaps are at a weak point in their lives.

We all also have heard the stories of the young women who have been lucky enough to escape and who have been able to tell us the horrific details of the conditions in which they have been held here in Ireland. I believe one of them was recently being used in a brothel in Waterford but living in Wexford and travelling in a car by day. She was duped into coming to the country on the pretext that a better life was to be had and that she would earn money. Of course, once signed up to that sort of a scenario, such women are taken advantage of by these ruthless individuals who have only one focus in mind.

I welcome the motion on the basis of raising awareness. Given the nature of human trafficking, the onus is on each and every one of us to ensure that if we are aware of a situation, or if we are concerned or even suspicious, we should bring it to the authorities' attention. I welcome the fact that the Government runs an awareness raising campaign aimed at the public and personnel likely to encounter victims of this trafficking. Training is also given to the gardaí and other relevant front-line staff. That is vitally important and is a welcome step.

I also note that it is State policy not to remove any person from the country who may potentially be a victim of trafficking. That is something that was of much discussion during our debates on the immigration Bill. Potential victims have access to a wide range of services. These also are important and need to be bolstered and reinforced. Of course the Legal Aid Board gives legal advice and assistance to potential and suspected victims of the trafficking.

I also welcome the fact that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has committed to reviewing a report published by the Immigration Council of Ireland entitled "Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: The Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland". I welcome that kind of openness, including working with the various organisations, including Ruhama, and encourage more of that. I commend the Minister and his predecessor on their efforts on our behalf. This is a serious issue and something we need to stamp out. I appeal to those who take advantage of these women, particularly Irish people who frequent various houses, to look into their consciences. When coming out of such a facility they should think about what they have done. I appeal to their human nature to report the issue and bring it to the attention of the authorities.

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