Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to figures (details supplied) suggesting that at least 50 foreign nationals have been trafficked here in the past six years for forced labour; if he is satisfied that sufficient procedures are in place to deal with such trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40171/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the data referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the estimate figures arising from the research in question, while presented at a number of recent public fora, has not yet been published. The suggested figures relate to research conducted prior to the commencement of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 on 7 June 2008. This Act criminalises the trafficking of adults and children for the purposes of labour exploitation as well as for sexual exploitation and for the removal of their body organs.

The Act defines labour exploitation as (a) subjecting a person to forced labour, (b) forcing him or her to render services to another, or (c) enslavement of the person or subjecting him or her to servitude or a similar condition or state. The Act also makes it an offence to sell or offer for sale or to purchase or offer to purchase any person for any purpose. Penalties of up to life imprisonment and at the discretion of the court, a fine, apply in respect of these offences. I am satisfied that this legislation will act as an effective deterrent for anyone seeking to subject a person to forced labour.

Immigration border controls are maintained by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Joint operations with the UK Immigration Service to prevent and detect possible abuses of the Common Travel Area by means of illegal immigration and associated criminality are continuing.

An Interdepartmental High Level Group together with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department, in partnership with non-governmental and International organisations, through a Roundtable Forum and Interdisciplinary Working Groups is working to recommend to me the most appropriate and effective response to trafficking in human beings. The High Level Group will also recommend a National Action Plan to me, mapping out a strategy to prevent and tackle trafficking in human beings for the coming years.