Five people found in a shipping container that arrived in Co Wexford on Sunday night have been taken to Dublin.
The four adults and a child were found inside an unaccompanied container, which came from Cherbourg to Rosslare on the Irish Ferries Oscar Wilde ship.
The container was picked up by a haulage firm and brought to New Ross, where gardaí were contacted.
The three men, one woman and three-year-old girl are understood to be from Iraq.
They have told gardaí they were fleeing persecution and will be looking for asylum.
All five were in good health, gardaí say, and have been brought to Dublin, where they are being dealt with under immigration legislation.
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A solicitor with the Irish Refugee Council said many people seeking asylum in Ireland are leaving desperate situations and are unsure of their destination.
Stephen Collins said it is likely the five people will be accommodated in directed provision.
He said arriving by sea "is one of the few remaining options open to people fleeing such dire circumstances".
