According to the free legal advice centres, the bulk of assistance offered is confined to the limited crime of trafficking. As said by the previous speaker, very few people in Ireland are identified formally in this regard. Although all the statistics show that very many women are brought into the country, very few people are charged. Legal aid is available only in respect of matters connected to the commission of the trafficking offence or any other offence connected to the alleged trafficking offence. Thus, it does not appear to cover assistance or representation, as necessary, to help victims with immigration or domestic problems, or with seeking compensation from the wrongdoer. A woman who has been trafficked and who wants to take the trafficker to court has no legal representation. She is, therefore, hardly likely to proceed to court in the first instance. This is fundamentally wrong. We should amend the legislation in this regard. We should think about this matter very carefully before we vote on the Bill.

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