Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking and sexual exploitation in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45075/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is assumed the Deputy's question refers to prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking in the broadest sense, i.e. for both labour and sexual exploitation.

Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, which came into operation on 7 June, 2008, creates a new offence of trafficking of children for labour exploitation and trafficking of adults for sexual and labour exploitation. No prosecutions have been commenced or convictions recorded for this offence to date.

Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended by Section 3 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008) created the offence of trafficking of children for the purpose of sexual exploitation. To date one person has been charged by the Garda Síochána on four counts of attempting to incite another to commit an offence contrary to Section 3 of this Act. The accused was charged in January 2007 and has already pleaded guilty to one count. The case is listed for sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24th February, 2009.

Prior to the enactment of Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, An Garda Síochána utilised the provisions of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000, which remains in force. Since September 2000 over one hundred people have been arrested and detained in respect of alleged breaches of Section 2 of this Act. Five persons have been convicted in respect of twenty-five individual breaches of Section 2 Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000, which relates to the facilitation/organisation of the illegal entry of persons into this State for gain.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the operation of the anti-human trafficking unit; the funding provided to it in 2008 and the provision for 2009; if progress has been made on its national action plan; when this will be published; the staff allocation to this unit; the proposed research into the area being commissioned or completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45087/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit was established in my Department under the stewardship of an Executive Director in February 2008. The role of the Unit is to ensure that the State's response to trafficking in human beings is coordinated, comprehensive and holistic. Three personnel were initially assigned to the Unit in February and the authorised compliment of 8.5 personnel was reached in May 2008.

Funding for human trafficking activities is paid for as part of the general expenditure from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Garda Votes and does not require specific earmarked expenditure.

The drafting of the National Action Plan is at an advanced stage. However a number of issues remain to be addressed with other Government Departments and Agencies before it can be finalised. I expect the Plan to be submitted to me for approval in early 2009, following which Government approval will be sought for the Plan and for its publication.

No formal research has been commissioned by my Department in relation to trafficking in human beings pending structures being finalised to facilitate the ratification in 2009 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.