Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in accordance with the recommendations made in July 2005 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in relation to Ireland the steps he will take to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls, including preventive measures, the prosecution and punishment of offenders and the enactment of specific legislation in the area. [4288/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Legislation is urgently being prepared in my Department which will create a specific offence of trafficking human beings into, through or out of Ireland for the purpose their sexual and labour exploitation. The legislation which is at an advanced stage of preparation will provide for compliance with two EU framework decisions — the framework decision combating trafficking in persons and the framework decision combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. The legislation will also take account of several other international instruments such as the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the UN convention against transnational organised crime, the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings.

Victims of trafficking are always treated sympathetically by members of the Garda Síochána and the current migration system allows the authorities to deal with these victims 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.

In relation to supports for victims, in 2004 my Department provided funding for Ruhama — a non-governmental organisation working with women engaged in prostitution — towards the employment of a co-ordinator on trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The Deputy may wish to note that during the course of Garda investigations gardaí liaise as necessary with Ruhama.

The Garda Síochána takes a proactive approach and is ever vigilant to ensure that any allegations relating to trafficking in human beings are vigorously investigated. A number of specific Garda operations have been put in place to discover the extent to which Ireland has been targeted by persons suspected of being engaged in trafficking in persons, to prevent such activity and, where such activity is disclosed, to gather evidence to be used in any prosecution which may be initiated. I am informed by the Garda authorities that these operations are ongoing. One such operation, Operation Quest, was established under the direction of the assistant commissioner in charge of national support services to investigate allegations that non-nationals are being trafficked into this country for the purpose of employment in the sex industry. Also, a working group on trafficking in human beings, chaired by my Department, is examining the extent and nature of trafficking into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation and reviewing various measures in place to combat the phenomenon.