More than 30 people were questioned at the weekend as part of a crackdown on people illegally paying for sex.

Gardaí in Kildare, Dublin, Wexford and Louth questioned 36 people over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It has been illegal to pay for sex in Ireland since February 2017.

Supporters of the legislation, which is known as the Swedish model, claim that it helps to reduce trafficking by disrupting the demand for prostitution. Opponents have argued that it makes sex work more dangerous by driving it underground.

Anti-trafficking groups have complained of a lack of public awareness and enforcement of the law since it was introduced.

Gardaí said they had begun a three day operation on Friday to target the demand for prostitution and to enforce new laws.