Mary Henry (Independent)

I apologise to the Minister for not being present in the House for his contribution. I do not think the public understands that Members of the Oireachtas are supposed to be in three places at once. As we all know, to be in two places is quite simple but when it comes to being in three places, it becomes a little more difficult.

I welcome the legislation and it will have my support. I am concerned it will not address two areas but I would be comforted to know if it did. Complaints of corruption in African governments are frequently made. I go to Africa quite often and I have heard complaints there that if the wealth of those Africans who are described as being corrupt — and they are not all described as being politicians — was not taken in so readily by European countries and by America, it would be much easier for those who want to control the situation in African countries to do so. During a recent visit to Nigeria I was informed that people buy a considerable amount of property here with what they described to me as money which has been given for favours. I was told by them that they would not have half as many immigrants trying to come into Ireland if that money was invested within Nigeria to improve the employment situation. I am doubtful that this legislation will help that situation as it would seem that this money comes here directly and not through other European countries.

I have been told this in other countries besides Nigeria. There are constant reports of billions of sterling, dollars and euro coming out of Africa and being secreted in property and in the banks of European countries and America. I hope this legislation could deal with this problem but I do not know if that is possible.

I refer to another area where I am unsure whether this legislation will be of assistance. I spoke at a conference in Edo state organised by the governor's wife, Her Excellency EkiIgbinedion. She has organised an initiative to try to stop the trafficking of women and children from Nigeria. The children in general are trafficked to other states in Africa for use as cheap labour but the women are trafficked to Europe. She is bringing girls back from Europe but has faced opposition to this initiative from the parents of the girls who were very grateful for the remittances and were not asking how the money had been earned. She informed me it would be a great assistance if Ireland could take action regarding women entering the country on false passports. The Minister has spoken on this issue. These women often do not realise what they are getting involved in. Eki Igbinedion has set up skills centres in Benin city to educate women and help them find better types of careers.

Apparently it has become essential for Dublin's adult tourism industry to have clubs where naked women dance. I regard it as amazing that we all managed for years without them but it seems they are essential now. I doubt if girls from Dublin are dancing in front of the neighbours. Any raids on these clubs show that ten out of 15 girls are non-nationals without the required work permits. Some of these people are coming through other European countries.

Could we make a concerted effort to put a stop to this criminal activity, which is now the second most lucrative form of crime after drug dealing? Dealing in human flesh is shocking. It is not remotely amusing that we have people coming in here, supplied by the Russian Mafia, from Moldova and through Albania to Italy. It is an appalling trade. It is going back to slavery again and it is extraordinary to think that we should have any involvement in it. If this legislation could be used in any way to address that matter, it should be done. If such action were taken, great gratitude would be expressed not only by me and others in this country but also by those in other countries from where these people are being sourced and shipped.