There are serious gaps in the services and supports for women who have been "sex-trafficked" into Ireland, a report has concluded.
The study claims the lack of a legislative framework has created a situation with no clear policy or guidelines as to what happens women who have been identified as sex-trafficked.
The report, published today by Dr Eilis Ward, of NUI Galway, and Dr Gillian Wylie, of the Irish School of Ecumenics, highlights one case of a women who was found by gardaí in a private brothel in Sligo.
She was believed to have been trafficked and was brought to Mountjoy jail. "This effectively criminalised her for an act in which she was an extremely vulnerable victim of a serious crime," said Dr Ward.
The report found at least 76 women were trafficked into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation between 2000 and 2006. Most of the women were brought in from eastern Europe, but others came from Africa, Asia and South America.
The report noted that 36 of the women have had no recent contact with support agencies.
Twelve remain in the Irish asylum system, and 10 were granted leave to stay in Ireland or were given refugee status.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Brian Lenihan today opened a public consultation period to inform a national action plan to tackle human trafficking.
The move is part of an international campaign involving Ireland, Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy and Spain - known as the G6 initiative.
The campaign is supported by Europol, Interpol and Eurojust, and Ireland will host a meeting of countries in Dublin in January 2008.
Senior Gardaí and officials of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have been participating in meetings in The Hague and in Warsaw since April this year.
The announcement was made today to mark the first EU Annual Day against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Mr Lenihan said: "This consultation phase follows the publication last week of the new Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Bill and the announcement of the establishment of a high-level group to oversee the development of the national action plan."
The Trafficking Bill will be debated in the Dáil next week.