Sinéad Gibney

The rights watchdog is meeting with the EU Network of National Rapporteurs on Trafficking in Human Beings today to deliver its first update since being designated as Ireland’s anti-trafficking rapporteur last October.

The Commission will tell EU partners that Ireland is currently falling down on ensuring the early identification of victims of trafficking and urgently needs to put a national identification referral process in place, with a crucial role within that for the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Having this ID process in place is essential to ensure victims can be treated appropriately, can avoid being criminalised and are given early access to necessary support services, the Commission states.

Data on human trafficking in Ireland is “limited” but suggests that trafficking for sexual exploitation is the prevalent type, with trafficking for the purposes of labour exploitation seeing “notable sporadic surges” linked to the operations of various production and service sectors.

Chief commissioner Sinéad Gibney said: “The Commission is determined to use this new EU anti-trafficking rapporteur role and the related powers conferred on us to drive progress in State action to tackle human trafficking into and out of Ireland.

“The Commission has consistently warned that victims of trafficking will continue to go unidentified and unaided, and traffickers will continue to act with impunity if there is not significant State action.

“Such action is required on the victim identification process, the non-punishment principle when dealing with victims of trafficking, and the placing of specialised services and assistance to victims on a statutory footing.”