Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Workplace Relations Commission inspection staff that have training in relation to human trafficking awareness or human trafficking indicators; to what level this training is provided; if this training is provided on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13436/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Inspection and Enforcement Services within the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) undertake inspection of employment records to ensure employers’ compliance with employment law in the State. The objective is to verify employer compliance with the relevant employment law and if necessary, to enforce compliance with the law.

While the WRC has no statutory functions or responsibilities in relation to human trafficking it is a partner in the State’s response to Trafficking in Human Beings (THB). As opportunities to detect indicators of THB may arise as part of its workplace inspection role, WRC inspectors have received training on a number of occasions in the identification of indicators of human trafficking (most recently in 2022 and additional training will be provided on an ongoing basis as required). However, where this arises, the WRC Inspection and Enforcement Services will refer the matter to An Garda Siochána as potential human trafficking cases.