Helen McEntee

The 40-page plan sets out a number of actions across government departments to work towards ending human trafficking in the State, including the establishment of a new national referral mechanism (NRM) to make it easier for victims to come forward, be identified and access support.

The ultimate goals of the strategy are to create a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims, to raise awareness and provide training for those who need it, and to prevent, detect and prosecute the culprits of this abhorrent crime.

Mrs McEntee said: “Human trafficking is an exploitative and particularly heinous crime that preys on some of the most vulnerable, and is committed with no regard for life, dignity or for the most basic of human rights.

“Victims of trafficking can be found anywhere and are often hidden in plain sight, and their vulnerability can make them particularly hard to reach. Across government, we acknowledge the seriousness of this crime and are determined to combat it.

“The publication of this action plan contains a number of important actions that will help us realise this, including the development of a training framework for all who come into contact with potential victims of human trafficking and the strengthening of mechanisms currently in place to identify and support these victims.”

In 2022, a total of 42 victims were formally identified by An Garda Síochána, but research suggests the true incidence of human trafficking may be 38 per cent higher than the official figure.