European anti-trafficking accord signed by Ireland

Groups working with vulnerable migrants have welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, that Ireland has signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

They called for its immediate implementation into domestic legislation and the provision of resources to underpin it, such as specialist training for gardaí.

Mr McDowell said the signing would lead to structures being put in place to protect the human rights of trafficking victims.

"Trafficking is an insidious criminal practice that preys on vulnerable people and the Government will not tolerate it in this country," he said.

"While instances of trafficking have been rare to date we cannot assume that this will continue and in this context it is important to send an appropriate signal of the Government's approach."

The convention will mean that "where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person is a victim of trafficking" they will be entitled to a recovery and reflection period of at least 30 days.

It also provides that victims will be granted residence permits, "where it is considered by the Irish authorities that their stay is necessary for the purpose of their co-operation in an investigation or criminal proceedings or both".

However, this aspect of the Minister's statement was a cause of concern to Geraldine Rowley, spokeswoman for the Ruhama organisation, which works with women engaged in prostitution.

"This could mean that very vulnerable women will be effectively coerced into testifying or face deportation. This is meant to be a human rights-based approach."

Meanwhile Green Party spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment, Eamon Ryan, has raised concerns about an "emerging black economy" and the situation of thousands of Romanians and Bulgarians.

"The most recent figures show that of the 6,265 Romanian nationals who applied for a PPS number since January 1st, 2007, a negligible 15 have received employment permits," he said.

"Of the 289 Bulgarian nationals with PPS numbers, only four have been awarded work permits."

If they didn't have work permits, there was a high probability they were seeking out other means of making a living, he said.

"The emergence of a black economy would spell serious social and economic problems for both the workers themselves and for broader society."