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The legislation being discussed today will, among other things, formally prohibit forced begging. Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Forced Labour
Extra Dáil sitting to pass laws against human trafficking
TDs are being hauled in on a Friday to pass legislation which gives a new legal definition to “forced labour”.
THE DÁIL will hold an usual sitting today to pass legislation bringing Ireland into line with EU standards on human trafficking.
TDs have been convened to pass laws which introduce a formal definition of ‘forced labour’ into Irish law.
The Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Bill 2013 – which has already passed through the Seanad – will also see harsher penalties for public officials who engage in any crimes under previous human trafficking laws.
It also formally expands forced labour to include begging, or any kind of labour “exacted from a person under the menace of any penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily”.
The legislation was formally passed through the Seanad without opposition.
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