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- US State Department notes ‘significant efforts’ made by Ireland to combat trafficking and support victims.
- Recommendations to revise Ireland’s National Referral Mechanism and publish a new National Action Plan are already significantly advanced
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, today noted Ireland’s upgrading in the ‘Trafficking in Persons’ (TiPs) Report 2022, and welcomed the significant progress An Garda Síochána and her Department have made to combat human trafficking and support victims.
This recent progress has been acknowledged and reflected in the report from the US State Department which saw Ireland’s ranking upgraded from the Tier 2 watch-list.
Significant developments in 2021 taken into account by the US State Department when assessing Ireland include:
- The first convictions, in September of last year, for human trafficking.
- Government approval for the creation of a revised National Referral Mechanism to make it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access support;
- The development of a new National Action Plan on Human Trafficking; and
- An increase in funding dedicated specifically to supporting victims of trafficking, and for public awareness and prevention efforts
In addition, Minister McEntee noted that work being advanced by her Department over the past 12 months progressing the revised NRM and the new Action Plan on Human Trafficking, and which is nearing completion, will make a substantial difference to the identification and protection of human trafficking victims in Ireland. These reforms are reflected in key recommendations made in the TiPs Report.
Minister McEntee said, “Human trafficking is an exploitive crime that preys on the vulnerable.
I have been clear that there is no place for it in our society.
We know vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for exploitation reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality.
We are confident that the victim-centred policy approach we are taking will, most importantly, encourage more victims to come forward and get help and support, but this in turn, should help us gather the information and evidence needed to strengthen prosecutions and convictions.
There are two further areas in particular that my officials are progressing, and which we hope to see reflected in the next TiPs rating.
The first is work ongoing in relation to a proposed new National Referral Mechanism. Next week I will seek Government approval to publish the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022, which, among other things will put a revised NRM on a statutory footing. This will also provide a formal role for civil society groups that support victims to be part of the formal identification process.
This new approach will make it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access advice, accommodation and support.
Work is also advancing on the development of a new National Action Plan on Human Trafficking. Following a further round of stakeholder consultations, the plan will be finalised and submitted to Government for approval in the autumn.”
In addition to engaging with the TiPs process, Ireland continues to work actively with all our partners in multilateral international organisations who are active in tackling human trafficking, including the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking (GRETA), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the UN and the European Union. These organisations periodically conduct country visits and make recommendation for areas of improvement.
Furthermore, the enactment of the legislation to establish the revised NRM on a statutory footing and the implementation of the draft commitments for action in the Action Plan on Human Trafficking should help improve Ireland’s ranking further in future reports.
The TiPs Report is the US Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking and it rates States in a three-tier system based on their perceived efforts to acknowledge and combat human trafficking.
Ireland was downgraded to Tier 2 watch list in 2020, and has now been upgraded to Tier 2 with the US State Department noting the government is “making significant efforts” in this area.
Among the areas highlighted are the increased number of convictions secured, the increased number of potential trafficking victims identified during inspections, and work on the expungement of convictions for selling sex, many of which may have involved victims of trafficking.
The Minister notes the references to the fishing industry in the 2022 report.
All allegations of human trafficking in the industry are fully investigated by An Garda Síochána and files submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. AGS report that the DPP has so far decided not to prosecute in all cases, deeming the necessary threshold of evidence to show human trafficking – as distinct from exploitative work practices – has not been met.
The Minister notes with concern the statement in the 2022 TIPs report that ‘Traffickers subject Irish children to sex trafficking within the country’.
The Minister is not aware of any evidence of this, either from the report or otherwise, but would point out that under Children First legislation and guidance Ireland has:
- Mandatory reporting for certain ‘classes of persons’ to report child abuse concerns; and
- Tusla and AGS have an agreed Protocol and reporting procedures for child protection and exploitation matters.
Any suspicions of child trafficking for sexual abuse – including any evidence that comes to the attention of any voluntary organisation – should be reported immediately to An Garda Síochána.
Minister McEntee added, “We are united in our commitment to supporting victims, and to prosecuting those who take advantage and profit from their misery.
The mass movement of people across Europe over the past four months has served only to concentrate minds and deepen our resolve to help.
Ireland is determined to play its full part in providing safe refuge for the people fleeing from Ukraine and the Irish people have afforded a warm welcome to more than 40,000 people so far.
However, we are also mindful that some will view it as an opportunity to deceive and exploit.
The Zero Tolerance strategy, the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which I launched last month contains an action to identify linkages between the implementation plan accompanying the Strategy, and the National Action Plan on human trafficking, as well as ensuring actions to prevent prostitution and combat trafficking for sexual exploitation are addressed in an integrated manner”.
“Bricks through the window now,
Thieves in the night.
When they rang on her bell,
There was nobody there.
Fresh graffiti sprayed on her door,
Shit wrapped in a newspaper posted onto the floor.”
Extract from that wonderful poem “History”, by Carol Ann Duffy, DBE FRSL HonFBA HonFRSE.
A current decision by Dublin City Council planners to grant permission for a proposed demolition of yet another part of Moore Street’s 1916 battlefield site; latter to make way for another office block, has been described as “deplorable”. If relatives of the Signatories to the 1916 Proclamation and the Moore Street Preservation Trust expect help from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr Malcolm Noonan, then forget it and for God’s sake don’t communicate, as we did, by email.
We base this assertion on the Ministers assistance in preventing the total destruction of the Great Famine Double Ditch, once situated at Mill Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Over the past few weeks we have continued to watch as officials of Tipperary County Council and Thurles Municipal District Council combined to further continue to wipe out Thurles History.
Watch the video hereunder and sigh.
You can see from the video, that despite threats of “COVER CCTV” detecting “ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES”; the most of these offences I might add, were done by Tipperary County Council and Thurles Municipal District Council, whose combined destruction of this area has continued unabated.
The old 1846/47 stone walls built by starving, emaciated men, have now been totally destroyed in favour of modern wire fencing. This same fencing has removed legal access to the lands on the southern side, of the now destroyed ditch area, formerly identified as Bohereen Keagh [translated from Irish to English ‘Blind Road’]
The old stile entrance appears to has been temporally replaced, with the worst effort at stone masonry that I and many others have ever witnessed. [Compare same with left section of stile built in 1846]. Sadly, none of the original faced stone work was retained. Dog walkers are now beginning to use the stile entrance as an area to dump dog faeces bags.
Thankfully, the perennial Common Spotted Orchid, despite every possible attempt to destroy it, has survived the cement post holes. Alas, other wild flowers have since been replaced by tarmac.
The promise by Councillor Seamus Hanafin in Press and Radio Statements of February 20th, 2022, to the more gullible of his electorate, has, as we suspected, never materialized.
His quote, lest our readers forget, “This coming week contractors will begin site preparation works on the pathway running from Monakeeba to the Mill Road through the double ditches. Some vegetation will be removed and illegal dumping cleaned up“.
Five months later, this filth and unsightly dumped rubbish remains in its entirety; some 3.5 years, after we first highlighted its existence, and today remains currently hidden, courtesy of Mother Nature’s green cloak, until next autumn.
Quite a few of the newly built houses, situated north of the destroyed Great Famine Double Ditch, are now occupied.
To demonstrate their ‘gratitude’, a few of these newly housed persons have already begun to rip numerous vast breaches in the new green chain link fencing, in their efforts to gain access to lands to the south side of the now destroyed Famine Ditch.
With council officials unable to fill a pothole in Thurles streets; same are unlikely to be able to control continued acts of local vandalism to the satisfaction of Thurles taxpayers.
* Changes To Disabled or Invalid Parking In Liberty Square, Thurles.
* Thurles Municipal District Council Use Consultant To Decide Paint Colour For Liberty Square Businesses.
Picture shown above, indicate recent changes to Disabled or Invalid Parking in Liberty Square, Thurles. Initially sign posts identifying these parking areas [See Pic. I] were erected facing away from traffic [See Pic. 2] the wrong way. Now the same erected signs have been removed altogether [See pic. 3] and their postholes filled in with tarmac, [See Pic. 4].
Disabled or Invalided drivers, not familiar with the area, can now no longer find the spaces, shielded by parked cars.
But not to worry; once again it’s only taxpayers money.
On another matter; local press reports that Fianna Fáil Councillor Mr Seamus Hanafin has been informed by District Administrator Ms Sharon Scully (Templemore Thurles Municipal District Council) of a proposed Liberty Square painting scheme.
From the report we understand that Ms Scully informed council members that a consultant had drawn up a “pallet of colours”, which would be used and she was asking for expressions of interest by property owners on the half upgraded Liberty Square area of the town.
It is all about Liberty Square.
Meanwhile, local press makes no public mention of the stench of sewage being experienced by shop owners on the money side of Liberty Square (distinct from the ‘Sunny side’).
We understand, however, that a representative of Thurles Municipal District Council has called to the shops in question, [latter stretching from Emmet Street to Slievenamon Road], following complaints having been received by said council. According to two shop owners, they were informed to forward any further complaints to “Irish Water”.
We further understand, that at least one premises has contacted their landlord, regarding the issue.
One shop owner informed us that an Irish Water representative has since called, but couldn’t get any smell.
Perhaps his olfactory sensory neurons, which are found normally in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose and connected directly to his brain, were out of action at the time. Or perhaps the prevailing wind, blowing from a westerly direction, had failed to materialise on that given day.
Meanwhile, regardless of this stench; same akin to sewage, (according to my chemosensory system), Fianna Fail Councillor Mr Hanafin, [again according to Local Press] has stated that dereliction is a major problem in town centres across Co. Tipperary and the only way he could see out of it, was by the council issuing ‘Compulsory Purchase Orders’ on these properties, or else charging a ‘dereliction levy’ on property owners.
Cllr Hanafin, did not elaborate on what all the properties would be then used for, once ‘compulsory purchase’ had been undertaken by the council, using of course good old taxpayers money.
A listen, sure you have to be saying something when elected to a position of power within your community.
While the wind and heavy rain experienced here in Tipperary over the past few days were a source of regret to sun worshippers; Thurles residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as the rising waters of the river Suir, have today successfully moved on its cesspool appearance and much of its stench.
Framed in the backdrop of deteriorating, graffiti sprayed, woodwork and a closed new car park under The Source Theatre and Library; a plastic sign, (crudely screwed to a broken tree support), excuses the lazy Municipal District Council’s unwillingness to cut the weeds and grass; latter claiming the area is, quote, “Managed for Wildlife” as part of an “All-Ireland Pollinator Plan”. Trust me no self-respecting Bee, Bumble or otherwise, have ever visited this blossom free area.
Pictures shown in the above video amply explain the total lack of maintenance within this area, which we once again are forced to highlight.
Plastic bollards, left behind by the disastrous, half upgraded, Liberty Square, has joined the other litter, within the rivers water.
Back in the mid 1960’s, as young people, we would have swum the base of Niagara Falls to lay our hands on and retrieve two footballs and the numerous tennis balls, currently caught in the reeds of this slow, shallow, river water. But today, in this greedy, whinging society and in an extremely rich county, it appears everything and anything is now disposable.
The stone dam, directly opposite Thurles indoor Leisure Centre and heated swimming pool building, has been dismantled and the two fish ways on the dam underneath ‘The Source’ County Library building, have also been allowed to crumble, both now reducing the water levels.
Manhole covers, taking water-run from our streetscapes, are left unlocked, allowing small sized litter to join the numerous bottles, cans and plastic bags; same which are quickly grabbed by slow moving water, to float on unsightly filamentous green algal growth, thus compromising the life of the river bed. Further down near the foot bridge sewage waters continue to flow, close to the swinging gates for the past 3 years.
Gone are the two water fountains which once helped to aerate the water within 50 meters of each other, close to Barry’s Bridge.
Our locally elected, powerless, doubly employed and highly paid town councillors are now only ‘stored’ as window dressing; in existence solely to provide a political presence for local unquestioning press and radio, while positively announcing leaked information from central government.
The silent Thurles electorate have lost all confidence in elected representatives; council officials and their two Dáil Éireann TD’s.
Same elected personnel reign over a town, which has long since been ignored, and no longer encourages, supports or attracts voluntarism.
The shame and lack of maintenance here in Thurles, lies clearly at the door of Thurles Municipal Council; TD’s and their lack of foresight and staff availability.
Again, I ask why are we paying Local Property Tax?
There will be a day of reckoning.
Minister McEntee welcomes decision to opt into proposed EU Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence.
The Irish Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD, yesterday, welcomed approval from the Oireachtas for Ireland to opt in to the first piece of EU legislation specifically addressing violence against women and domestic violence.
The European Commission has identified gaps in protection and support measures across the European Union, and with this proposal is seeking to align EU law with established international standards, most notably the Istanbul Convention.
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature 10 years ago, on May 11th 2011, is the most far-reaching international legal instrument to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women.
Under Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Government requires the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas to opt in to the EU directive.
Minister McEntee said,
“We are looking forward to engaging with our EU partners to shape a progressive and effective approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for the Union.
I will shortly publish our new national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and it is clear that DSGBV is an issue we need to tackle on all fronts – both domestically and at an EU level.
While this EU directive is a detailed and comprehensive measure, a lot of what is being proposed is not new for Ireland. But we can always strive to go further and encourage our EU partners to do likewise.
I believe that along with the publication of the new national Strategy, which is comprehensive and forward-thinking, Ireland can and will drive real progress in combatting these horrific crimes”.
This EU Commission proposal aims to ensure effective prevention of such violence, protection from violence, access to justice, victim support, and strengthened coordination across the Union.
It also aims to ensure that sexual harassment and cyber violence are addressed effectively.
While Ireland’s response can be said to be more developed that some other member states, it is felt that these type of crimes are unlikely to significantly decrease across the European Union without additional EU action and commitment to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
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