Written answers
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Department of Justice and Equality
Human Trafficking
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of instances of trafficking in women or children reported or identified in each of the past five years and to date in 2012; the extent to which punitive and preventative action has been taken in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55690/12]
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 came into effect on 7 June 2008, there are no recorded figures of human trafficking prior to that date. Between 7 June and 31 December 2008, 36 alleged victims of human trafficking were encountered by An Garda Síochána. No further breakdown of the 2008 figures is available.
On 1 January 2009, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department initiated a data collection strategy for the purpose of gaining a more in-depth understanding of the nature and extent of human trafficking in Ireland. To date, annual reports for 2009, 2010 and 2011 have been published and are available from Ireland’s dedicated anti-human trafficking website, www.blueblindfold.gov.ie , in addition to my Department’s website. The information regarding reported human trafficking of women and children for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 is set out as follows.
2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Women | 46 | 48 | 39 |
| Number of Children | 17 | 13 | 7 |
To date in 2012 (up to end November 2012) there have been 22 investigations initiated involving 27 suspected victims; 20 adults and 7 children. 21 of the suspected victims are females. 19 of the 22 investigations initiated in 2012 are on-going with 3 investigations initiated in 2012 now closed.
In addition to the above, there are currently 7 prosecutions going through the courts for offences under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. These cases involve a total of 14 children as victims; 10 males and 4 females; all of these children are Irish Nationals.
The number of convictions in respect of offences under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and in respect of other offences related to human trafficking are set out in the annual reports for 2009, 2010 and 2011. It should be noted that convictions occurring in any calendar year may be the result of prosecutions initiated in previous calendar years. For the purpose of clarity the convictions recorded for the period 2009 to 2012 are set out in the table.
Year | Act | Accused | Charges | Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 and Common Law Offences | Adult male | Possession of Child Pornography. Soliciting another to commit an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Child Trafficking Act 1998 (Child Trafficking and taking etc. child for sexual exploitation) | 6 years imprisonment. |
2009/10 | Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 | Adult male | Incitement to traffick a minor for sexual exploitation and incitement to the possession of child pornography. | 6 years imprisonment and Post Release Supervision Order for 20 years. |
2010 | Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 | Adult male | Recruitment and trafficking of a minor. | 3 years imprisonment (suspended). Placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 5 years and entered into a bond to be of good behaviour for a period of 3 years. |
2010 | Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 | Adult male | Sexual exploitation of a child. | Eight month imprisonment (suspended). |
| Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 | ||||
2010 | Criminal Law (Rape)(Amendment) Act, 1990 | Adult male | Recruitment and trafficking of a minor for sexual exploitation and production of child pornography. | 10 years imprisonment. Placed on Sex Offenders Register for life. Post Release Supervision Order for 15 years. |
2011 | Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 | Adult male | Recruitment and trafficking of a minor for sexual exploitation. | 3 years imprisonment |
2011 | Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998 [see end note} | Adult female | Controlling and sexually exploiting a minor for the purposes of prostitution. | 4 years imprisonment (final two years suspended). |
2011 | Child Trafficking & Pornography Act, 1998 | Adult male | Controlling and sexually exploiting of a minor for the purposes of creating child pornography. | Fine of €100. |
2011 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993 | Adult male | Controlling/organising prostitution (female adult victim) | 2½ years imprisonment (final fifteen months suspended). |
2012 | Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 | Adult female | Controlling and sexually exploiting a minor for the purpose of creating child pornography. | 3 years imprisonment |
2012 | Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act, 2000 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993 | Adult Female | Trafficking of a female minor illegal immigrant and controlling/directing prostitution | 3 years imprisonment |
Note: As amended by Section 6 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act 2007 as substituted by Section 3(2) of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008.
In An Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2012, one of the eight stated priorities is to prevent and detect Human Trafficking. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in my Department and An Garda Síochána are continually vigilant for any emerging trends relating to human trafficking and they maintain regular dialogue on this matter with the relevant State agencies and non-governmental organisations working in this area.
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