Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
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International Conventions.
206 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if and when the Government will ratify the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and its protocols, including the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. [31731/04]
View answerThe UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its three related protocols contain comprehensive provisions across a wide range of subjects and in certain respects go beyond my Department's responsibility. Accordingly, a number of legislative provisions in different areas of the law will be required to transpose these instruments into Irish law. The position in this regard as far as my Department is concerned is as follows. It has to provide for the requirements of the convention regarding criminalising participation in a criminal organisation. Proposals, by way of amendment, will be included in the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 which is currently awaiting Second Stage in the Dáil. Legislation to enable Ireland to ratify the protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air is being prepared in my Department as is legislation regarding the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The legislation being prepared regarding the latter will also criminalise trafficking in human beings for the purpose of their sexual and labour exploitation as provided for in the EU Council framework decision on combating trafficking in persons and will take into account the Council of Europe draft convention on action against trafficking in human beings. Negotiations on this instrument have not yet been completed. Regarding the protocol against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition, work is ongoing in my Department on a review of firearms policy generally with a view to new legislation which will, inter alia, transpose into Irish law those aspects of the protocol for which legislation is required to enable Ireland to ratify it. I hope to be in a position to publish proposals towards the end of next year. It should be noted that many of the provisions of that protocol are already covered by existing Irish legislation. In view of the range of legislative provisions which are required it is not possible to say at this stage when ratification of the convention and its protocols will take place.
