Written answers

Thursday, 12 May 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Human Trafficking

5:00 pm

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the role of the European Union in combating the trafficking of women and girls around the world, in particular on the EU's policies to track down and prosecute the perpetrators and beneficiaries of such transnational crimes. [15741/05]

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government's policies to combat the trafficking of women and girls around the world; if policies are in place to raise awareness and understanding of such trafficking to provide proper training to relevant authorities in addressing the needs of victims of trafficking and to provide the appropriate supports to the victims of such crimes who are currently living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15742/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together.

The European Union has a role in ensuring a more effective, joint approach to cross-border problems such as trafficking in and smuggling of human beings. I can inform the Deputy that Ireland's policies in this field complement developments at both the EU and the broader international level.

Legislation is currently being prepared in my Department which will criminalise trafficking in human beings for the purpose of their sexual and labour exploitation as provided for in the EU Council Framework Decision on combating trafficking in persons and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. This legislation will also take account of the recently negotiated Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings.

I can further inform the Deputy that a range of practical measures and policies are in place to combat this type of crime. The Garda national immigration bureau, which was established in 2000, has an investigation unit which investigates the trafficking of human beings. I am informed by the Garda authorities that members attached to this unit have attended relevant courses to assist them in their investigations into the trafficking of human beings. These courses have been organised by Europol and European Police College, CEPOL, on an EU wide basis.

Members of the Garda Síochána also attend regular conferences in Europe, which facilitate an exchange of information between the EU member states, Europol and Interpol, as well as inter-governmental consultations on asylum, refugee and migration policies in Europe, North America and Australia.

Victims of trafficking are always treated sympathetically by members of the Garda Síochána and the current immigration system in Ireland also allows the authorities to deal with the victims of trafficking in a sympathetic and pragmatic way. It is recognised that it is in the interests of both the victims of trafficking and the authorities to co-operate with a view to ensuring the protection of the victims and the prosecution of the perpetrators. Although Ireland has not opted to participate in the Council directive dealing with the issuing of residence permits to victims of trafficking in human beings, in practice a similar regime can be implemented under existing Irish legislation.

During the course of Garda investigations the gardaí liaise as necessary with Ruhama, a non-governmental organisation which assists women who are the victims of this type of offence. Furthermore, my Department has provided funding to this organisation, towards the employment of a coordinator on trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Ruhama is in fact represented on the national steering committee on violence against women and I expect that the strategic plan currently being drawn up to chart the activities of the committee for the next five years will address further the question of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

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