Sex-trafficker convictions double in five years

Convictions for sex trafficking in Ireland have doubled over the last five years - new statistics from the Immigrant Council show 10 people were found guilty in 2014.

The charity said the rise proved traffickers were becoming more active here and said its workers helped 19 victims last year, its busiest on record.

It is now calling on the Government to tighten our laws and clamp down on the buyers who fuel the industry.

CEO of the Immigrant Council Denise Charlton said Ireland was attractive to potential traffickers as our laws were not robust enough.

"Our laws are very soft at the minute," she said. "We don’t tackle or penalise demand or exploitation in the sex trade. It's a very lucrative context for traffickers and pimps.

"In Northern Ireland they have just introduced legislation that will tackle demand so that will make us (in the Republic) even more attractive."