Ireland has one of the highest levels of migrants who are newly-diagnosed with HIV.

According to a report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Ireland has the fifth highest proportion of migrants among all newly-diagnosed persons with HIV.

Ireland lies behind the UK, Finland, Norway and Sweden in a comparative table of 23 European counties.

Sweden has the highest European rate of around 75% while Ireland's rate of new HIV diagnoses which were among migrants was just over 40%.

The report, however, says it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which acquisition and transmission of HIV is occurring among migrants after they have emigrated to EU or EEA countries.

It said while sexual acquisition and transmission of HIV is occurring in migrants after they have migrated to the EU/EEA, few countries collect and publish data that would enable robust estimates to quantify this.

The ECDC report says there is a need to provide equitable access to prevention and treatment services to all categories of migrants.

It says improving access to HIV treatment for all infected persons, regardless of immigration status, would positively impact on reducing infections both within and beyond migrant communities