The Government has been accused in the Dáil of using rhetoric that is fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said earlier that migration was a good thing but there has to be a system with rules that are applied.
The issue is now high on the political agenda following protests outside the IPAS centre at Citywest in Dublin in recent weeks and the arson attack on a house accommodating asylum seekers in Drogheda last Friday.
As Cabinet met this morning, the Tánaiste offered an explanation of his comments that migration numbers here are too high.
Mr Harris said migration was good but there had to be rules which take account of social cohesion.
Mr Harris said there is "a limit" to what Ireland can do for immigrants, and claimed some people wanted to "shut down debate" on the matter.
He said that recent data from the Economic and Social Research Institute shows that the population is growing "way faster than baseline projections."
The Fine Gael leader said this has an impact on public services and housing.
Speaking to reporters before a Cabinet meeting, he said: "The conversation about migration isn't just about international protection, it's about our population growth in general."
He added: "Roughly speaking, for every 10,000 people come into our country, around 3,000 more homes are needed.
"So let's actually have a rational, calm informed debate that doesn't seek to label people, shout them down and box them into certain positions.
"This is not left or right, this is about having a commonsense, evidence-based policy."
In the Dáil his words on the issue were described as irresponsible by Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who called for greater protection for those staying in IPAS centres, saying they are facing modern day pogroms.
Social Democrats Holly Cairns also described the Government's language around immigration as inflammatory.
During Leaders' Questions, Ms Cairns raised an incident in Drogheda where four children were rescued from the top floor of a building housing International Protection applicants following an arson attack on Friday night.
She said anti-immigration and racist rhetoric led to what she described as a "violent attack on vulnerable people which could easily have led to children being killed".
Ms Cairns said the Government's response was to ratchet up an increasingly volatile atmosphere by using "inflammatory language and stoke further fears".
She said the Government also moved immediately to start charging rent to people who have a job and are living in IPAS centres.
"Pointing fingers at immigrants, State agencies and the latest fall guy - EU red tape - is straight out of the (Nigel) Farage playbook and it's deeply concerning the Government is taking this approach," she said.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers defended the coalition's record in this area and insisted it was not sowing the seeds of division.
IP applicants paying for accommodation is 'fair' - Martin
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is "the fair thing to do" for International Protection applicants who are working to make payments towards the cost of their food and accommodation.
Speaking on his way into a meeting of the Cabinet this morning, Mr Martin said he expects the measure to be rolled out over the next nine months.
"This Government, established nine months ago, said we were going to do this.
"Obviously, there has to be an administrative capacity established to enable that to happen, but it's the fair thing to do if people are working that they would make a contribution to their accommodation and food," he said.
