Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will establish the proposed anti human trafficking unit; the terms of reference of same and who its members will be; the way they will be selected; the person who will head the unit; the selection criteria that will apply; the way the unit will liaise with non Governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32570/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit will be based in — and staffed by civil servants of — my Department. As I have indicated publicly, I intend to appoint a senior official of my Department to the newly created post of Executive Director of the Unit and a selection process, subject to standard selection criteria, is under way in my Department at present in relation to the filling of the post.

The creation of the Unit is intended to facilitate a coordinated and effective approach in tackling the problem of human trafficking. The Executive Director will be a key member of the High Level Group being established to develop effective mechanisms and strategies to deal with the issue of human trafficking and to prevent such activity taking place in this jurisdiction. The Executive Director, and the Unit, will also have a key role to play in finalising the National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking which is being prepared at present. The Unit will, of course, work closely with both governmental and non-governmental organisations.