Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is his intention that Ireland will sign and ratify the UN Protocol Trafficking 2000 and the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40871/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is the Government's intention that Ireland proceed a) to ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and b) to sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, as soon as the necessary legislation is in place. In an Adjournment Debate in the House on 23 November, Minister of State Conor Lenihan T.D., on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell T.D., set out comprehensively the existing legal position in Ireland in relation to human trafficking.

As regards the legislation referred to above, at the request of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government is preparing a draft Criminal Justice (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill which will create an offence of trafficking in persons for the specific purpose of sexual or labour exploitation. This will supplement existing legislation in that area. It is expected that the Bill will be published in early 2007. When the Bill becomes law, Ireland will be in a position to comply fully with the commitments enshrined in both the international instruments in question.