Helen McEntee

Ms McEntee was speaking in Cork at a conference on tackling human trafficking yesterday.

After the enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill) 2023 next Wednesday, a range of organisations will be able to formally receive reports of human trafficking.

As the law stands, only gardaí can recognise human trafficking victims. Agencies within the sector expect an increase in referrals following the enactment of the law.

Ms McEntee said: “We need to do more. We do know that for many people who are trafficked, they come from countries where perhaps their experience or engagement with police forces was not positive and so they don’t come forward, they don’t have trust in An Garda Síochána. This national referral mechanism will ensure that other trusted partners are there for victims to come forward.”

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that the investigation of sexual exploitation was a “particular focus” for gardaí.

He added: “We also are very aware of the dangers of enforced labour but also enforced criminality. Enforced criminality comes from growhouses which we are all well aware of but also begging rings which can also lead to the imposition of quotas, daily quotas, and the violence then if quotas aren’t met, coupled with the forced disfigurement of individuals. It is a really heinous crime.

“We do see a lot of begging in Ireland and there has to be an awareness that that could be linked to organised crime group engaged in effect in exploiting people through begging.”