An investigation into human trafficking is under way following the discovery of 14 people in a refrigerated container, which arrived on a ferry to Rosslare on Monday.
Ten Kurdish people from Iran and Iraq, two of whom are children, along with three people from Vietnam and one from Turkey were discovered on board the ship while it was sailing from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Ireland.
Police in Cornwall, in England, received a distress call from a Kurdish woman in the container and the captain ordered a search of the ship which docked at Rosslare Europort at 3am on Monday.
The migrants are now under the care of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS). Tusla is also involved.
The investigation is being led by gardaí in Wexford and supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
They are also liaising with police and customs in the UK, France and Belgium, as well as Europol and Interpol.
Gardaí are interviewing the migrants with the assistance of interpreters.
The investigation is trying to establish where they entered the refrigerated container, which was loaded south of Paris and driven to the port in Belgium.
It is believed they broke a hole in the trailer to access oxygen.
A spokesperson for the gardaí said that the nine men, three women, and two girls are all in good health.
Work of 'professional gang'
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association said the 14 people were put on board the trailer "by a very professional gang".
Eugene Drennan said the lorry was loaded in the south of Paris and came north and said he believed it may have been chosen because it had an Irish number plate.
"Irish trucks traditionally would have been coming to the shorter route of Dover-Calais, so perhaps there was some belief there that they were headed for England and it was for a direct ferry," he said.
Mr Drennan said that during the crossing, those hiding in the trailer "seem to have been able to hack their way out...to get some air".
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He said they were lucky the lorry was on an upper deck of the ferry and were able to call for help.
Mr Drennan said he believes the 14 people were put onto the trailer while the driver was taking his mandatory break.
Speaking on the same programme, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said everything must be done to try and prevent refugees from being smuggled into countries because of the risk to life that the journeys pose.
He said he understands that people undertaking these journeys are desperate and that Ireland stands for human rights and must manage asylum seekers' rights to the best of the State's ability.
"Government is working with communities working across the country so no one area is overburdened, but shutting the doors to saying Ireland is full is not a viable, correct or appropriate response."
Mr Ryan said the Government needed to establish large centres where the State can provide facilities rather than relying on private facilities.
A medium-to long term plan for safe planning, and that respects local communities, is needed, he said.
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'Humanitarian response'
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that the 14 people may choose to apply for asylum or leave voluntarily.
"Our first response is always a humanitarian one - to check that they are alive and in good health and my understanding is that they are," he said.
"Our next step now is to facilitate voluntary return - their return home if they're willing to go home.
"If they choose to apply for asylum, they are legally entitled to do that and we'll try and process the application as quickly as possible."
Limerick-based NGO Doras which works with people from migrant backgrounds has said the rescue shows the level of risk that people undertake in seeking protection.
Its CEO John Lannon has stressed the importance of specialist reception conditions for people like those that arrived in Rosslare Eurosport, who may have experienced trauma.
"If people have been smuggled or trafficked that puts them in vulnerable positions, and there is often risk of further exploitation. Specialised support should be provided to help in these types of cases", he said.
He added: "The fact that 14 people, including children had to hide in a refrigerated container also highlights the need for more safe, legal and regulated pathways for people to reach third countries, like Ireland."
Understanding vulnerabilities
President Michael D Higgins said people need to put the effort in to understanding how vulnerabilities arise so that people can be trafficked.
"We really have not put enough work into listening to the stories of people who are that desperate," he said.
President Higgins said that if we are to understand migration, we must look at the 'last straw' effects that make people borrow money and turn to human traffickers.
'Callous act for profit' - Howlin
Labour TD for Wexford Brendan Howlin said the 14 people were sealed in the trailer in a "callous act for profit".
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Howlin said new infrastructure at Rosslare, due to be completed at the end of next year, will significantly improve checks when it is in place.
"The sod was turned last October on a €170m development to putting in permanent customs facilities, putting in revenue facilities, putting in a new fixed scanner for containers coming in.
"So that will vastly improve things when it's all in place by the end of next year."
Additional reporting Brian O'Donovan
