Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
610. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of arrests made by An Garda Síochána in connection with human trafficking and in connection with prostitution offences respectively, in each of the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51868/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 decriminalised the sale of sex, criminalised the purchase of sex, and increased the penalty provided for brothel keeping.
The legislation was designed to shift criminal liability towards those who buy sex rather than the sellers, aiming to protect those most at risk within the sex industry.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that there were 97 prosecutions initiated between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2026 with offence type of “Pay For Sexual Activity With a Prostitute”.
Table 1: Annual breakdowns of Charges and Summonses for Payment of Sexual Activity with a Prostitute
|
Year |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026* |
Grand Total |
|
Grand Total |
24 |
50 |
13 |
<10 |
<10 |
97
|
*2026 includes volumes up to the end of Q2 2026 (31/06/2026)
The prevention, detection and prosecution of the crime of human trafficking is a priority for me and for this Government.
Significant measures are being taken to combat this type of crime, provide victim supports and to raise public awareness. The Programme for Government commits to implementing the Third National Action Plan to prevent and combat human trafficking (2023-2027), which sets out the actions underway across relevant Departments and agencies to tackle human trafficking and to encourage victims to come forward and access support.
In 2025, 114 people were identified by an Gardaí Síochána as potential victims of human trafficking, a significant increase on the 67 people identified in 2024. Of the 114 victims identified in 2025, some 75 (66%) were identified as victims of sexual exploitation, with the remaining cases relating to other forms of exploitation, including labour exploitation and criminal exploitation.
Given the transnational nature of human trafficking, victims identified by An Garda Síochána may have been trafficked or exploited in Ireland or in another jurisdiction. Accordingly, these figures should not be interpreted as indicating the location where the trafficking or exploitation occurred.
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the PULSE recording system currently requires an injured party to be recorded for every human trafficking incident. However, given the nature of human trafficking investigations, particularly those that are intelligence led or proactive, it is not always possible to identify a victim at the outset of an investigation.
As a result, current recording practices may under-represent the full extent of human trafficking investigations in Ireland. This can also mean that subsequent operational activity, such as, arrests and criminal proceedings commenced, may be recorded in other offence categories.
An Garda Síochána is undertaking work to define revised recording practices which will capture all relevant information which is part of a human trafficking investigation. At this time, An Garda Síochána anticipate this will be progressed sufficiently to enable them to commence proactive publication on arrests and charges/summons in the area of human trafficking towards the end of this year.
