Campaign groups have welcomed the Garda's involvement in a new campaign against criminals who force trafficked women into the sex trade.
The Garda, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and police forces across Britain are taking part in the project which aims to help victims of trafficking and prosecute those responsible.
The campaign is named Pentameter II after an operation last year which led to the arrest of more than 200 people and the rescue of 80 women and children forced into sex slavery in the UK.
A permanent unit, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, was set up following the first Pentameter operation, bringing together police, prosecutors and officers.
However, a Garda spokesman said no such unit was planned for the Irish force. He said he assumed the UK-led project would involve greater levels of co-operation between police forces across Britain and Ireland.
Ruhama, an organisation which works with women involved in prostitution, says it is aware of more than 200 victims of sex trafficking into Ireland over the last seven years.
Geraldine Rowley, a spokeswoman for the group, welcomed the Garda initiative yesterday and hoped it would involve non-governmental organisations.
However, she expressed disappointment with the Government's repeated pledges to enact legislation to make it a crime to traffick people into the country for sexual or labour exploitation.
"We have been promised every year . . . that legislation will be enacted shortly," she said. "We certainly hope the Government acts on its latest promise to enact anti-trafficking legislation by the end of this year."
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has also called for action which would offer greater protection for victims and ensure more support services.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said yesterday a new Trafficking Bill will be published over the "coming weeks".
Commenting on the new initiative, Mr Lenihan said: "Operation Pentameter II is an example of the proactive, preventative approach being taken by An Garda Síochána in tackling those who engage in this despicable crime.
"While there is no evidence of a significant human trafficking problem in Ireland, the Government is determined that all necessary actions are taken to ensure that this remains the case.
"In the coming weeks, I will publish a new Trafficking Bill which will strengthen the law here in dealing with the evil of human trafficking."
UK police said yesterday that trafficked women can be forced to have sex with up to 40 strangers a day after being brought to Britain under the false impression they would be working in legitimate jobs.
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service revealed last summer that "slave auctions" of women are taking place on the concourses of British airports.
