Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that certain types of welfare payments, paid to people seeking Irish citizenship, will be taken into consideration as part of the application process.
The Government is due to consider proposals from Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan that will reform Ireland's migration policy.
The Government is going to progress changes to the asylum system here this week.
Attending the G20 summit in South Africa, the Taoiseach indicated that those seeking citizenship could be prevented from doing do if they received certain welfare payments over a specific period.
The changes going to Cabinet will also tighten the rules around family reunification applications - plus there will be a focus on any debt owing to the State.
While those granted refugee status may have to wait five rather than the current three years before applying for full citizenship.
Sinn Féin and Aontú both expressed concern that the Government's plans are not adequately responding to the impending changes to the British asylum system.
The full extent of the changes to the migration laws will be outlined in legislation due to be published before the end of the year but Mr O'Callaghan is set to give an update on the measures after the Cabinet meeting concludes on Wednesday.
"I think this is a modest enough overhaul, but an important one," Mr Martin said.
"We've always taken a humanitarian approach, but I think there is necessary tightening up that is required in terms of both the asylum process and in terms of the citizenship process in Ireland.
"That's in essence, what is envisaged by these reforms," he said.
Mr Martin said the reforms had come before the party leaders and also before the Cabinet sub-committee.
The Taoiseach was asked about reports that refugees will not be allowed to become Irish citizens if they have received welfare payments within a certain period of time.
He was specifically asked if that would mean a female refugee should avoid getting pregnant if she wants to obtain Irish citizenship.
"So we've discussed these in relative detail and I think we will work through these as the legislation comes in, but that wouldn't be on the agenda," he said.
"I think we're looking at particular types of payment and so on like that," Mr Martin said.
The Taoiseach was also asked what he hoped the new reforms would achieve.
"I think a sense that Ireland is not an outlier in terms of benefits," he said.
"We see what's happening in the United Kingdom, even though we were looking at these reforms before the UK's latest reforms, there are knock-on effects, consequences from what others do. That's the reality.
"We have to be realistic about it, and we have to be firm about it, and also we have to accelerate because it's taken too long historically for people to have their asylum applications processed and concluded," Mr Martin said.
"We've now made a lot of progress on the first phase of that, the appeal stage is being staffed up, and Minister [Jim] O'Callaghan has particular plans to enhance the resources there so that we get a faster timeline in terms of appeals as well, so that people aren't waiting for prolonged periods of time," he added.
