Immigrant Council of Ireland

Removing vulnerable refugees from the clutches of human traffickers is the focus a new partnership of frontline agencies across six European countries, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Statement by the Immigrant Council of Ireland
The Immigrant Council says the EU funded TRACKS project, led by the Refugee Forum in France, will identify procedures to thwart the efforts of criminal networks to capitalise on a humanitarian catastrophe.

==National Action Plan urgently needed                                                                                                                                                                       ==


 * The return of huge queues at the main immigration office on Dublin’s Burgh Quay is now an annual occurrence every September and October which must be addressed as a matter of priority, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.


 * The Council says cash raised through the Immigration Service in terms of registration and citizenship fees must be immediately re-invested to deliver an efficient, fair and transparent immigration system as is fitting of a modern democracy.


 * The Immigrant Council wants frontline staff at the office to receive immediate support and for the long promised online appointments system to be introduced.
 * The Government must now progress its Draft National Action Plan on Human Trafficking which includes the targeting of demand for such crimes. Laws which will target demand for sex trafficking were published last week and now need to become reality.In addition we want Ministers to appoint a National Anti Trafficking Reporteur to ensure that our laws, policies and procedures to jail the guilty while protecting and supporting the victims become the best in the world.