The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act, 2008 came into effect on 7 June 2008. I am informed by the Garda authorities that since then An Garda Síochána have undertaken human trafficking investigations involving 49 suspected victims under the age of eighteen as follows:
|
Year
|
Number
|
|
June to December 2008
|
6
|
|
2009
|
17
|
|
2010
|
19
|
|
2011 (to date)
|
7
|
Administrative Immigration Arrangements for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking, which included provisions for granting a 60-day recovery and reflection period, if required, and a 6 month temporary residence permission for persons who wish to cooperate with the investigation or prosecution of the trafficking offence were also put in place with effect from 7 June 2008. The Administrative Immigration Arrangements for the Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking were amended on 9 March 2011 to include a provision that where a person below the age of 18 years who is not the holder of a valid permission to be in the State is identified as a suspected victim of trafficking, a recovery and reflection period of a duration greater than 60 days may be granted having regard to the arrangements in place for the care and welfare of the child.
To date, a recovery and reflection period of a duration greater than 60 days has not been granted where a person below the age of 18 years who is not the holder of a valid permission to be in the State is identified as a suspected victim of trafficking. 60 days recovery and reflection periods have been granted to two persons below the age of 18 years who were not the holders of a valid permission to be in the State to date, one in 2009 and one in 2010.
