Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome. I want to ask about the current state of play regarding the fight against human trafficking here in Ireland. There are many issues dealt with in these Houses and in Government Buildings which are pressing, obvious and apparent and which demand attention be given to them, as well as that attention being seen to be given to them. There are other issues that will never affect the vast majority of the people of this country, directly at least, but that for those they do affect have the most awful life-altering effects. Human trafficking and its associated exploitation falls into this category, but we are not doing enough to fight it.

In June the USA published its annual trafficking in persons report which ranks governments across the world on their efforts to acknowledged and combat human trafficking. Ireland was ranked in tier two which consists of countries that do not fully comply with minimum standards but which are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance. The report stated that the Irish Government did not meet the minimum standards in several areas, including a failure to convict any traffickers. There were also deficiencies in victim identification, referral and assistance and services for victims remained inadequate. I understand that such was the disquiet across the pond at our lack of progress in combatting trafficking that the continued operation of US pre-clearance in Dublin Airport was called into question.

Last year the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, GRETA, stated:

Sexual exploitation [in Ireland] remains the primary form of exploitation, but the number of people trafficked for labour exploitation – in sectors including fishing, farming, construction, catering and domestic work – grew over the same period.

Trafficking for labour exploitation is under-recognised and under-reported. Shockingly, there have been no convictions for trafficking for labour exploitation in this country despite the increasing numbers of identified suspected cases. Ireland is not immune to trafficking. What is being done by the Government to step up the efforts to combat trafficking? I stated in the Chamber before the summer recess that the mass movement of persons across the European Continent as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has provided traffickers with the perfect smokescreen to carry out large-scale operations undetected and that we must be extra vigilant in this environment to ensure the vulnerabilities of people in flux will not be exploited for profit. That is what this Commencement matter is getting at.

The business of immigration consulting has exploded in recent years and is only going to get bigger, yet there is no legal framework, basis or oversight for accreditation of immigration consultants. I could leave this room, call myself an immigration consultant, charge people to see me and tell them God knows what. At the moment, any Joe Soap can simply slap a label of immigration consultant on himself and start to advise people on making what is a huge life change. That lack of oversight or accountability with regard to legal advice is very worrying and leaves open many doors that unscrupulous individuals may use to exploit vulnerable persons. Does the Government have plans to codify the role of immigration consultants via legislation, accreditation or oversight? If not, how does it plan to ensure all those thinking about coming to Ireland are receiving genuine guidance and being protected from exploitation?