Written answers

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Human Trafficking

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts undertaken by his Department to work with his international counterparts in order to effectively combat human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39489/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The ongoing struggle against human trafficking is a priority issue at EU and international level.

A specific Action Plan was adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council last December. This Action Plan is aimed at developing common standards, best practices and mechanisms to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings. It covers such issues as the coordination of EU action and the prosecution of offences linked to trafficking. Implementation of the Action Plan is being pursued by the Justice and Home Affairs Council, where Ireland is represented by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. At the June European Council, Heads of State and Government highlighted human trafficking as an area where further EU action is required.

In Ireland, human trafficking is primarily a criminal law matter and the Government has recently approved the Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill 2006. This Bill is currently being drafted in the office of the Parliamentary Council.

My Department actively supports measures against human trafficking in other international fora, such as the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations, where a resolution on "Trafficking in Women" and Girls was adopted without a vote on 9 November. Ireland co-sponsored this resolution. In addition, through Irish Aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs has contributed more than €1.7 million towards anti trafficking projects carried out by, amongst others, the International Labour Organisation.

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