A voluntary organisation which offers support to prostitutes has called for the closure of lapdancing clubs, following signs of an increase in the number of foreign women trafficked into the country to work in the sex industry.
Ruhama says it met or supported 91 women who were trafficked into the country between 2003 and 2004. They typically came from eastern Europe, in particular Albania and Romania, according to the voluntary group.
The organisation, which says it first came across trafficked women as recently as 2000, fears the problem may escalate out of control if it is not addressed.
Kathleen Fahy, director of Ruhama, said: "We're very concerned that if we don't wake up to this, it could start getting out of hand. Whether we like it or not, Ireland is part of a global network, and international criminal gangs have the means to do this."
Ms Fahy said the organisation feared that the 91 women were "just the tip of the iceberg". She said identification of the women was not easy as they were not a homogeneous group, and their situations could be very complex.
Among the control tactics used by traffickers were to regularly move women around the country, along with threats of physical abuse or deportation, according to Ruhama's annual report for 2003 and 2004.
Ms Fahy said women trafficked into the country tended to work either in lapdancing clubs or brothels. Many brothels tended to be in "ordinary" locations, such as city-centre apartments.
Overall, Ruhama had contact with more than 240 women involved in prostitution in the Dublin area last year. Many came from poor backgrounds.
Ruhama offers development services for women, including computer training, employment support, personal support and counselling. It is also involved in advocacy and awareness-raising.
It has called on the Government to take a number of steps to combat prostitution, including the closure of lapdancing clubs and redrafting laws to focus on women in prostitution as victims rather than offenders.
