Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which the international community remains alert to the activities of terrorist gangs throughout Europe and further afield and currently involved in the trafficking of women and children; the number of prosecutions taken or pending to address these issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3691/24]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that combatting the serious crime of human trafficking is a priority for the international law enforcement community. Disrupting criminal networks engaged in trafficking in human beings is one of the EU’s priorities for the fight against serious and organised crime under EMPACT (the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) for 2022 to 2025.
Ireland is fully committed to implementing EMPACT effectively and An Garda Síochána is participating in a significant number of EMPACT operational actions to combat human trafficking.
The European Commission published a proposal for an updated EU Anti-Trafficking Directive in December 2022 to strengthen the rules that prevent and combat human trafficking. Once adopted, the revised Directive will provide stronger tools for law enforcement and judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation and Ireland opted into, and continues to be actively involved in, the negotiations on this important file.
EU Member States and international partners have established a wide range of fora to discuss new developments in terrorism and to exchange information and best practices in countering terrorist threats. In addition, relevant domestic and international law enforcement agencies and security services continue to prioritise investigations into the activities of terrorist organisations.
As was noted in Europol’s annual European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) for 2023, terrorist groups often engage in a range of criminal actions, including human trafficking, to finance their terrorist activities.
At a national level, the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 are main pieces of legislation that deal with human trafficking. Under these Acts, courts can impose penalties of up to life imprisonment and unlimited fines on those convicted of trafficking. I am informed that in 2023, 9 cases of human trafficking involving 12 individuals were being prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination unit (HTICU) and the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit (OPIU) attached to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) are continually engaged with our international law enforcement partners in the fight against the transnational crime of trafficking in human beings.
All law enforcement partners throughout Europe, South America, Asia and USA share intelligence and cooperation in the fight against THB with the goal of identifying victims and bringing them to safety.
An Garda Síochána are also intent on disrupting, dismantling, and prosecuting Organised Crime Gangs involved in these crimes
An Garda Síochána further advises that GNPSB does not comment on ongoing investigations or operations that may prejudice ongoing investigations within the criminal justice system.
