Ireland has been ranked at Tier 2 for the second year running, having been on a Tier 2 or lower status since 2018. This means Ireland is failing to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Commenting on the report, Brian Killoran, chief executive of the Immigrant Council, said: “While not surprising, it is disappointing to see that Ireland has not made any great strides over the past year in combatting human trafficking.

“The reality of the difficulties and barriers facing victims of trafficking in Ireland remain the same as they were last year.”

He added: “Despite the publication of a draft national action plan on human trafficking, and the government advancing toward draft legislation for a revised National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking, we are very concerned that this progress is just too slow.

“Promises that have been made in relation to supports and adequate services for victims continue to be broken, and the continued use of the broken direct provision system to house victims of trafficking is causing untold harm.”

While highlighting positive developments including increased funding to victim support, increased funding for awareness raising programmes, and the successful identification of several child victims of trafficking, the report criticised the lack of progress in reform of the victim identification process, the lack of a revised national action plan, a lack of convictions and a failure to accommodate survivors outside of the direct provision system.

Mary Henderson, a solicitor with the Immigrant Council’s independent law centre, said: “One simple example of where identified victims of trafficking face exclusion is in accessing Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) supports when they attend third-level education.

“This specific issue has been outlined to the minister for justice, Helen McEntee TD, and was included by the Department in the draft national action plan, however it has not been progressed. As a result, victims of trafficking will not be able to access SUSI supports if they attend third level education this September.

“This is particularly disappointing as it was understood this was going to be addressed when the updates were made to the Student Support Regulations earlier this year, and even more so given that at the time, the interim minister for justice, Simon Harris TD, also had responsibility for those regulations under his remit as minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science.”