The National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking of Human Beings in Ireland identified the need to establish links with airlines to develop awareness among staff of the issue of human trafficking.
In 2012 the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department, in consultation with their counterparts in the United Kingdom, developed a training resource for airline staff and this is available on my Department's dedicated anti-human trafficking website www.blueblindfold.gov.ie. Since that time, joint communications by the Irish and United Kingdom authorities have been made with airlines flying into and out of both jurisdictions seeking their support to help in the fight against human trafficking by providing training to airline staff on the indicators of human trafficking.
A second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland is currently being drafted and will address further follow up action in this regard.