€250m is made from sex-trafficking in Ireland annually, a new report reveals, and almost all buyers of sex are over 42.

The report published by the European Commission shows that the buyers of sex here are mostly well-educated men in relationships.

Some 92% are over the age of 45, earning more than €20,000 per year.

One in five said they had come across young girls who had been trafficked. There has never been a prosecution under Ireland's anti-human trafficking laws.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland will hold a "Stop Trafficking Conference" in Dublin today.

Chief executive Denise Charlton said up to 1,000 women are for sale in Ireland at any given time.

"Because most of the sex for sale in Ireland is done through the internet, you can actually buy a young woman and have her delivered to your apartment or house or hotel room in any town or city in Ireland," she said.

"the buyers who participated in this research were primarily from cities, but we know from our work directly with victims that they are exploited throughout the country."