Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007
181 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps that have been taken by his Department to reduce the incidence of human trafficking through Irish ports in view of recent revelations which highlighted the absence of appropriate legislation here to tackle human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22534/07]
View answerAn Garda Síochána has put in place a number of initiatives designed to prevent and detect a range of criminal activity, including human trafficking, at the frontiers of the State. Robust immigration controls have been adopted at ports of entry to the State, two of which, Operations ‘Gull' and ‘Sonnett', were commenced to target criminality which has a cross-border dimension. Both operations have uncovered suspected cases of trafficking of persons and smuggling of illegal immigrants.
Ireland participates in the activities of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX). Among the objectives of such activity, is the disruption of the flow of trafficked persons.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau Information System (GNIB IS) provides access to databases of information which have the capacity to identify persons who have a criminal intent as they attempt to enter the State. Access to an Interpol database of stolen/forged travel documents has resulted in the detection of persons in possession of stolen passports and who are suspected of involvement in trafficking and/or smuggling of people into the State.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has appointed a number of Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) who are deployed as appropriately to airports in EU Member States that have been identified as convenient departure points for travel to Ireland and which are suspected of being utilised by criminals involved in the smuggling of immigrants and trafficking of human beings.
The provisions of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act, 2000 are enforced by Immigration Officers operating at ports of entry. The following cases are recent examples of this enforcement.
On 26 July 2007, at Dublin Circuit Court, a person was convicted of twelve (12) counts of trafficking of illegal immigrants contrary to the provisions of section 2 of the Act involving the arrival of twelve Mauritian nationals in the State, through Dublin Airport. A four year custodial sentence was imposed in that case.
On 30 August 2007, at Dublin District Court, an Egyptian national was also convicted of a breach of the provisions of section 2 of the Act and had a twelve month term of imprisonment imposed on him, in a case involving the arrival of six Egyptian nationals in the State, through Dublin Airport. The sentence was suspended following the Judge being satisfied that his departure from the State to Egypt had been confirmed.
Operation ‘Pentameter 2' which is being launched with the UK Authorities continues to recognise the vulnerability of the Common Travel Area (CTA) to abuse by persons engaged in illegal immigration and is targeting those suspected of involvement in the trafficking of human beings, as well as liaising with those persons directly affected by this type of criminality.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is not complacent on the issue of human trafficking into Ireland or into other jurisdictions via Ireland. Legislation creating an offence of recruiting, transporting, transferring to another person, harbouring or knowingly arranging or facilitating the entry into, travel within or departure from the State of a person for the specific purpose of the trafficked person's sexual or labour exploitation or removal of his or her organs will be published shortly.
In addition, it is intended that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill will, subject to enactment, provide the necessary framework for addressing the immigration aspects of trafficking so as to comply with the relevant protection provisions in the Council of Europe Convention.
In particular, in the context of the treatment of victims, it is intended that a framework will be put in place whereby a victim of trafficking can be afforded an immediate period of recovery and reflection in the State and also, in circumstances where he or she wishes to participate in any criminal proceedings in the matter, a further period of residence to enable him or her to do so.
The legislation will be the first in a series of measures to be rolled out over the next year and I intend to make a further public announcement in relation to the issue of human trafficking later on this week.
