Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures that exist for licensing lap-dancing clubs; and his views on policy changes in order to avoid the high risk of illegal exploitation of women. [5062/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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While existing legislation does not specifically provide for the licensing of lap-dancing clubs, the granting of licences for public dancing is set out in the Public Dance Hall Act 1935. A licence to operate a Dance Hall is granted, as appropriate, by the District Court in the locality. I can inform the Deputy that an interagency task force chaired by the Department of Environment, and on which my Department and An Garda Síochána are represented, is examining the regulatory context around the siting and location of adult entertainment venues. Part of its terms of reference is to examine, with reference to the planning code, the various codes which apply to such premises and how any identified gaps in the existing regulatory framework might be closed. I understand that the task force is close to finalising its work.

I can also inform the Deputy that I am introducing an important piece of legislation to protect vulnerable people, especially women and children, trafficked into, through or within Ireland from exploitation. The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill currently before the Seanad introduces specific criminal offences of trafficking in persons for the purpose of their sexual or labour exploitation. The draft legislation creates an offence of recruiting, transporting, transferring to another person, harbouring or causing the entry into, travel within or departure from the State of a person for the specific purpose of the trafficked person's sexual or labour exploitation or removal of his or her organs by means of the threat or use of force to other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payment or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person.

A new Interdepartmental High Level Group has been established to recommend the most appropriate and effective responses to trafficking in human beings to me. The Group is co-chaired by the Director General of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) and the Assistant Secretary in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform dealing with crime and includes representatives from:

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

INIS

An Garda Síochána

Executive Director of the new Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Office of the Minister for Children

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Department of Health and Children

Health Service Executive