Human Trafficking.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005

Thursday, 27 January 2005

Questions (159)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

158 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Ad Hoc Committee on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings regarding the Council of Europe’s draft European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings; and his proposals to ensure that the convention is strengthened rather than weakened by making the treaty subsidiary to EU legislation on trafficking, which may not meet the same standard. [2231/05]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I can inform the Deputy that, the Ad Hoc Committee on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, CAHTEH, held its seventh meeting in December 2004. At that meeting CAHTEH finalised the examination of the draft Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and approved the text. The CAHTEH agreed to submit the text of the draft Convention to the Committee of Ministers for transmission to the Parliamentary Assembly in accordance with the decision taken by the Ministers-Deputies in December 2004.

The CAHTEH decided, at its seventh meeting, that subject to available funding, to hold a further meeting to consider the opinion of the Parliamentary Assembly and, if necessary, adapt the draft Convention accordingly. The CAHTEH also agreed to finalise at that meeting the draft explanatory report.