Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 189: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on action against trafficking; the status of Garda operations known as Operation Hotel and Operation Quest; if these are still in operation; the results both operations have had yielded to date; if there are plans to establish similar operations to combat the problems of human trafficking; the measures which are currently being undertaken to tackle the activity of human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33370/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I wish to refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question Number 144 on the 3rd October, 2006 (30711/06) in which I dealt with a range of issues in relation to human trafficking, including the Council of Europe Convention referred to.

Insofar as specific Garda operations are concerned, I can advise the Deputy that operations 'Quest' and 'Hotel' are ongoing and that An Garda Síochána take a proactive approach in preventing and combatting trafficking of human beings. While I am advised that the number of incidents of human trafficking reported remains low, An Garda Síochána will continue to monitor the sex industry in Ireland and ensure that instances where human trafficking is suspected are thoroughly investigated. Operation 'Quest', under the control of the Assistant Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Region, is targeting foreign nationals involved in the sex industry. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), under the control of the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services, is the lead agency for Operation 'Hotel', which is targeting trafficking in human beings for exploitation.

In addition, participation by the GNIB in joint operations, in particular with the United Kingdom Immigration Service is ongoing, in recognition of the vulnerability of the Common Travel Area (CTA) to abuse by persons engaged in illegal immigration and associated criminality such as trafficking of human beings. The recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the UK Immigration Service and An Garda Síochána, facilitating the exchange of data between both organisations, further enhances the ability of both immigration services to prevent and detect illegal immigration. The GNIB will also continue to liaise at an international level with organisations such as Frontex, Europol and Interpol with a view to promoting and benefitting from international best practice in this field.

At a national level the GNIB is in ongoing contact with relevant Government and non-Government agencies, including Ruhama and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to ensure effective cooperation including the exchange of information relating to suspected human trafficking. Furthermore, and as the Deputy may be aware, on the 5th May, 2006, I launched a poster campaign, organised by An Garda Síochána and facilitated by Crimestoppers, designed to encourage victims of trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation to report their plight to the State authorities. Posters have been displayed at airports, bus and railway stations, hostels and hospitals and Garda stations.