David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made by his Department in the fight against human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3928/07]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I would refer the Deputy to the Adjournment Debate in the House on 23 November, where I, on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell, set out comprehensively the existing legal position in Ireland in relation to human trafficking.

The Deputy may wish to know that the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has received government approval for the drafting of the Criminal Law (Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Offences) Bill. The Bill is at present being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. This Bill 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 this year. A copy of the draft Bill is available on the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform website. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform has also indicated his intention to address the position of victims of trafficking via a policy statement in the context of the forthcoming Immigration Residence and Protection Bill.

The ongoing struggle against human trafficking is a priority issue at EU and international level. My Department actively supports measures against human trafficking in various international fora, such as the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations. Ireland has signed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. In addition, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform has recently announced that he intends to ask the government to approve Irish signature of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

In addition, through the Irish Aid's Civil Society Fund, the Department of Foreign Affairs currently funds ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes International). This is a global network of organisations working together to achieve the realisation of the right of all children to live free of child prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking for sexual purposes. Funding amounts to €300,000 over three years.

Also, under the Civil Society Fund, my Department supports Children in Crossfire. The overall aim of this programme is to combat trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, within South Asia through increasing and promoting the roles of community and local government in the reduction of trafficking, as well as increasing the level of participation of poor women and children in social and economic activities. Funding for this programme amounts to €379,000 over three years.