Ireland urged to reaffirm trafficking pledge
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has expressed concern that the Government is "stepping back" from a pledge to implement a statutory National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for human-trafficking.
The NRM, which aims to identify, protect, and assist of victims of trafficking, was provided for in 2024 legislation.
IHREC was responding to the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which puts Ireland at 'tier-two' level for the fifth year in a row.
More victims identified
The human-right body acknowledges that the report recognises several positive developments – including increased investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, Ireland’s first convictions for trafficking for labour exploitation under anti-trafficking legislation, and a significant increase in the number of trafficking victims identified and referred to care.
The report found that 114 victims of trafficking were identified and referred to care in 2025, compared with 67 in 2024.
The commission notes, however, that all identified victims were foreign nationals, saying that US report highlights continuing gaps in the identification of Irish nationals and children.
'Systemic gaps'
IHREC adds that the US report also identifies "serious and continuing" shortcomings in Ireland’s response to trafficking.
These include the continued failure to implement the revised NRM, resulting in what the report describes as "systemic deficiencies and gaps" in victim referral, assistance, and identification.
"By its very definition, tier two means that the Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so," said chief commissioner Liam Herrick.
'Clear pathway'
“The NRM was designed to address fundamental weaknesses in Ireland’s existing system by creating a clearer, accessible, multi-disciplinary pathway for identifying, referring and protecting victims of trafficking," he stated.
"The 2024 legislation was the product of significant parliamentary scrutiny and years of work. We should now be moving forward with its implementation, not backwards," Herrick said.
He called on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to the statutory NRM and provide a "clear pathway" to its implementation.