Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
149. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the prevention of human trafficking will form a part of Ireland’s forthcoming new international development policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1010/19]
View answerThe promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The 2015 foreign policy review, "Global Island - Ireland’s foreign policy for a changing world", recognises that human rights violations undermine development. This commits the Department to promote and protect human rights, with an explicit commitment to combat and prevent human trafficking. Ireland has put in place strong legislative, administrative and operational measures, through a multi-agency approach. Ireland is party to UN and Council of Europe instruments to combat this threat and have fully transposed the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.
Global Island provides the overall foreign policy framework for the recent public consultation paper on international development, part of the process towards a new policy on international development.
That public consultation paper reiterated Ireland’s commitment to upholding human rights and Ireland’s international development actions. As part of the contextual analysis underpinning the new development policy, instability and the threats it poses to human rights are identified, factors which facilitate human trafficking.
In line with our foreign policy, the consultation paper on international development cooperation proposes a focus on protection of poor and vulnerable people living in fragile, crisis and conflict-affected areas, and of people on the move. At recent public consultation meetings there was broad validation of proposals to build on the intersections between Ireland’s peacekeeping and conflict resolution work, political engagement, human rights, development cooperation and humanitarian action to combat instability and protect people. The final drafting of the new policy is nearing completion, with a view to maximising the effectiveness of Ireland's international development programmes in all their aspects.
