Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a breaking story that 16 refugees have been found in the back of a truck on a ferry on the way to Rosslare from France. They are all alive and in reasonable health. That is my understanding from reading media commentary on it. I understand the Garda will be waiting for the ship when it arrives. The Government is fully committed to addressing human trafficking under Irish and EU legislation and the principal international conventions. The second national action plan to prevent and combat human trafficking in Ireland was launched in 2016. The action plan identifies six priorities, namely, prevention; training, awareness raising and evaluation; reduction of vulnerability; data collection; demand reduction; and enhanced co-ordination and co-operation. Action continues on a whole-of-Government basis in line with this plan. An Garda Síochána has committed significant resources to the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking. A specialist Garda unit, the human trafficking investigation and co-ordination unit, has been established to co-ordinate delivery of this national strategy. This is criminal activity that does not respect borders.

See this speech in context