Ireland opposes, and seeks the elimination of the practice of human trafficking. The Taoiseach, in his intervention at the Council of Europe's Third Summit in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005, welcomed the adoption of the Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as the conventions on terrorism opened for signature at the summit, as "[laying] down a strong marker that these evils within European Society are unacceptable and not to be tolerated".
The Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings is currently under consideration by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which has responsibility for policy in this area. Legislation is being prepared by that Department which will 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. This legislation will also take account of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Putting the necessary legislation in place would put Ireland in a position to ratify the convention.