World Day Against Trafficking highlights need for action on modern day slavery – Keane

Fine Gael Senator and the Party’s candidate in the upcoming Dublin South-West bye-election, Cáit Keane, has said that the first UN World Day Against Trafficking, which takes place today (Wednesday), highlights the need for cross border action on what is essentially modern day slavery. Senator Keane has also urged the Government to publish second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat the Trafficking of Human Beings, which is currently being prepared by the Department of Justice.

“Today is the first ever UN World Day Against Trafficking, a welcome measure to highlight what essentially amounts to modern day slavery.

“A European Commission report on human trafficking, published in April 2013 showed that human trafficking is increasing across the EU. In Ireland there was a 7 per cent increase in the number of people trafficked from 2009 to 2010, however there were no convictions. The Immigrant Council of Ireland, with whom I met last week, has highlighted CSO figures showing that human traffickers are part of a black economy here worth €1.2 billion a year. 

“I am pleased to say that the Government is taking action on this. Human trafficking legislation was introduced in the Seanad last year and enacted in July 2013, making Ireland fully compliant with the relevant EU Directive on the matter. I also understand that the second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat the Trafficking of Human Beings in Ireland is currently at an advanced stage in the  Department of Justice.

“I have prioritised this issue since being elected to the Seanad. As a member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, I was on the committee that published a report into human trafficking last October. The report called for a strong cross border approach to tackling human trafficking. While this recommendation obviously focused on a joint North/South approach here in Ireland, it also emphasised the need for stronger cooperation across the borders of EU Member States. A cross border approach is the only way we can crack down on the scourge of human trafficking.

“Last year I was honoured to be one of the Irish representatives hosted by the Lithuanian parliament at the Parliamentarians Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) roundtable seminar in Vilnius. PAHT is a European project funded by the European Commission that was set up to establish a network of Parliamentarians to work to prevent human trafficking. The seminar examined how national Governments can better help victims and prevent human trafficking.

“Trafficking in human beings amounts to modern day slavery and must be brought to an end. I look forward to the publication of the second National Action Plan on human trafficking and to working on the consultation process with all relevant stakeholders. I plan to raise this matter again when the Seanad resumes and I urge the Government to publish the action plan as soon as possible.”