Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and my former colleague, Mr. McDonald. He was one of the first Irish Members of the European Parliament. When Ireland entered Europe in 1973 and our first representatives were appointed rather than elected, people wondered what the impact of European politics would be. Mr. McDonald's presence is appropriate, given the fact that we are dealing with legislation that would not have been tabled had it not been for the politics of Europe and its drive to build a socially and economically fair and just Union. Much of the legislation in the justice portfolio stemmed from European directives and the vision of people at European level who saw a better, brighter and broader future ahead. This answers the cynics who often ask what Europe has done for Ireland. Simply put, this legislation would not be before the House were it not for Europe.

I welcome the Bill and listened with interest to the Minister of State's comments. I thank the Opposition spokesperson for her constructive contribution. We are as one on the need for this legislation to be enacted and enforced. The broader issues of trafficking are a human tragedy and must be addressed. "Something must be done" is a pointless political phrase if no one does anything, but the State will have additional tools to deal with trafficking once this legislation is in place.

Senator Power has consistently given her opinion on the issue of prostitution and the possible criminalisation of purchasers of sex. The Minister of State is aware that the justice committee has been studying this topic in great detail and its members appear to have a united approach on the matter. I look forward to the Government's response to those deliberations.

In our so-called modern society where we talk so much about rights, it is difficult to accept that trafficking is a greater problem than it ever was. One must ask why. In trying to answer, we must reflect on the word "respect". Once society begins to lose its concepts of respect and responsibility, grave problems emerge. Once a view is taken that respect is not due to certain sectors of society and people of certain backgrounds, these difficulties and problems emerge.

Whether it is a refugee or someone who is brought to Ireland for forced labour or somebody who has been forced into prostitution, respect has obviously gone out the door on society's part and not on the part of the victims or even the practitioners. As a country, we have a great deal of soul searching to do to get back to a surer, safer and more responsible path.

Sadly, the trafficking problem frequently appears on our television screens when we view pictures of lorry loads of imprisoned people being shipped into Europe and sometimes Ireland. It is a barbaric practice and one wonders how, in a so-called civilised age, it can happen, yet it does. Whatever resources and laws are required must be put in place to tackle the problem more effectively.

The prostitution problem clearly will be the subject of a major national and political debate. The previous speaker referred to the experience in Sweden where the growing view is perhaps the best solution. There are counter arguments and studies but the current scenario is most unsatisfactory. Only yesterday, I heard Paddy O'Gorman on RTE radio doing one of his reports during which he interviewed prostitutes on the streets of Dublin. They told a sad tale of disadvantage, poverty, lack of education and lack of options. There is a large equation of problems, which we must tackle.

It is not enough only to condemn forced labour; we must ensure through the passage of legislation such as this that it does not happen. I look forward to the enactment of the Bill because it will help in that regard.

On the question of refugees, it was interesting to read comments during the past week about our responsibility or otherwise towards our refugees. There are approximately 4,500 refugees in Ireland. While accommodation is provided, they are prisoners and not even in their own homes. An adult receives an allowance of €19 per week while €6 or €7 is provided per child. These people, in most instances, would love to work. They have skills and abilities but they are not permitted to work. I appreciate we have an enormous unemployment problem but it is not such that we can say to 4,500 people that they have no place in society and they cannot work even if they wish to work and even if a job were available. That needs to be addressed. According to the cynics, these people are technically costing the State whereas, instead, they could be great net contributors to the State from a social, cultural and economic point of view. Somebody has decided - I am not sure whether it was in this House, this Government or the EU - that these people must live in these conditions, which are far from ideal. The inscription on the statue of Charles Stewart Parnell states, "Thus far shalt thou go and no further". We are saying to refugees, "Thus far shall you go but no further". We allow them to survive but we do not wish them to thrive. It is a sad problem, which needs urgent attention.

I will not go into detail about the legislation but I appreciate the Minister of State's view that it is urgent and it is required of us from a European perspective. It is good that we are willingly entering into this and it will make a difference. I thank her for bringing the legislation before us. We talk about a fair, equal and just society but such a society cannot have a place for forced labour and such dreadful stains and burdens on the soul of the state.