Human trafficking has far wider connections to Ireland than the cases that occur within the jurisdiction, according to a member of an EU expert group.
Kevin Hyland is a former Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in the UK and currently represents Ireland on the Council of Europe's Independent Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said trafficking is a multi-billion dollar enterprise globably and is estimated to have generated more than €150bn for criminals last year, with many millions of that in Ireland.
There were 34 cases for sex trafficking, six for labour and three for forced criminality in Ireland last year but Mr Hyland said he suspects there were many more that were not detected.
He added that nine of those cases involved children.
He said there will be new legislation at EU level next year around conflict minerals - which are mined in areas of conflict such as the Democratic Republic of Congo - where children are working in the mines for products that end up in IT equipment.
Mr Hyland said there has to be accountability about what businesses are doing now and their supply chains.
He said some countries including the UK, Australia and France have transparency laws, but Ireland does not and a cross-government strategy is needed to tackle the issue properly.
On what is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Mr Hyland said victims must be treated and supported properly.
Most victims are placed in direct provision centres, he said, even though the majority of those trafficked are EU citizens and are not breaching any immigration laws.
Mr Hyland said if victims are not treated properly, it makes it even more difficult to secure convictions.
