Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fishing vessels that were raided by various Departments and agencies and the port in which they were berthed on 5 October 2016 and for an unknown number of days thereafter. [32570/16]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of undocumented fishermen that were identified on fishing vessels which were raided by various Departments and agencies on 5 October 2016 and for an unknown number of days thereafter. [32571/16]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the planned follow-up actions she will take with regard to the employers concerned and the undocumented fishermen identified during raids on 5 October 2016 and an unknown number of days thereafter. [32572/16]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that when fishing vessels were raided on 5 October 2016 by various Departments and agencies it was necessary to involve armed gardaí and dogs in the searches. [32573/16]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason it was necessary to seal off the harbours at Castletownbere and Howth during raids on fishing vessels on 5 October 2016, and for an unknown number of days thereafter, by various Departments and agencies. [32574/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 to 61, inclusive, together.

In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to supply all of the information requested by the Deputy; I have included substantial information in my response, and will endeavour to provide further information to the Deputy in due course as soon as it is to hand.

As the Deputy is aware, a Day of Action under 'Operation Egg Shell' took place on Wednesday 5 October concentrating on the ports of Castletownbere and Howth. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that "Operation Egg Shell” was carried out as part of the "North Atlantic Maritime Project”, of the Santa Marta Group. The Santa Marta Group is a global alliance of international Police Chiefs and Bishops working together with Civil Society to eradicate human trafficking and modern day slavery. Within this Group, Ireland has agreed to lead in the North Atlantic Fisheries Project with the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, to prevent human trafficking and labour exploitation in the fisheries industry in the North Atlantic.

The Day of Action was co-ordinated by An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners, the Workplace Relations Commission Inspectorate, the Irish Navy and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. Specially trained officers from the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau were involved in operations at both Castletownbere and Howth. These officers focused on finding people who demonstrated any indicators of human trafficking, particularly crew members of fishing vessels. Further objectives included:

- Identifying offences under the Atypical Work Permit Scheme for non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet,

- Breaches of employment legislation,

- Immigration offences,

- Breaches of tax/revenue and customs offences,

- To apprehend suspects in the commission and/or the attempted commission of offences above and fully investigate, detect and prosecute (where possible) any offences outstanding against these suspects and groups, and

- Identify and support any suspected victims of human trafficking that might be found.

I am further informed by An Garda Síochána that inspections were carried out on 41 fishing vessels, 22 in Castletownbere, 16 in Howth, and three offshore inspections. Inspections at port were led by the Workplace Relations Commission Inspectorate, under Section 27 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015, accompanied and assisted by Gardaí and Revenue and Customs officials. The naval service carried out the offshore inspections.

No evidence of human trafficking or labour exploitation was found in any location. A number of suspected breaches of the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA crew, were detected, as well as other suspected breaches of employment law, immigration law and tax offences. Both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Garda National Immigration Bureau are following up in relation to these suspected breaches. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that their approach and that of partner agencies was non-confrontational and geared towards seeking the cooperation of those encountered; no incidents were reported at any location.

The prevention and detection of human trafficking in all its forms and the protection of its victims has been a policing priority for An Garda Síochána for the past number of years and it remains a priority in 2016.