Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I raised this issue when I spoke on Second Stage of the Bill. We should learn from international law, including developments in Europe, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, not to take the easy option. This problem does not arise in respect of the enlarged EU, despite what Senator Mullen said about difficulties for Bulgarians and Romanians, because EU citizens have rights. However, trafficked persons may also come from Africa or Asia. I advise the Minister of State in advance of Report Stage that we must not copy the failed approach taken in Canada which took the easy option of deporting non-Canadians. By doing so, it sends unfortunate women back to their former lives. If they wish to be repatriated, that is fine, but if they are coming from a war-torn country or have been abused in their place of origin, we must consider them afresh.

If we are to achieve anything with this Bill, it should be to ensure the mistakes made in other jurisdictions are not repeated. I implore the Minister of State to consider the issue seriously. By ignoring the advice of Ruhama and other non-governmental organisations interested in this area and failing to address this issue, we will create a lacuna in the Bill. We must not walk away from the arguments made by Senator Mullen. The easy option is to copy the mistakes made by our Canadian counterparts.