A "series of proposals" regarding Ireland's migration laws can be expected next week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.
Speaking on his way into this morning's Cabinet meeting, Simon Harris rejected accusations against him of 'dog whistling' and said he believes there needs to be respect with any debate around the topic of migration.
"I want to reiterate because there is a great attempt in elements of politics, great attempts in elements of the media as well, to completely frame and mis-frame everything the Government is saying about migration. Jumping to labels and caricatures and dog whistles and people being allowed to accuse me of dog whistling and never being challenged on it.
"We do need to get better, all of us, at having a respectful debate around migration," he said.
Mr Harris said he has been shocked by how quickly people have tried to shut him down for saying "very basic things."
He said it is important to have a debate around migration and it is important to have a system that is "sustainable."
The Tánaiste said he is concerned that conversations are not happening at a policy level, like they are in other European countries, on this.
"You have to have rules, the rules have to work and the rules have to be in line with neighbours and other European countries."
He acknowledged that Ireland is to an extent waiting to see the changes that will happen in the UK.
Britain is set to overhaul its approach to human rights' laws to make it easier to deport migrants who arrive illegally, in a major shake-up of asylum policy.
Mr Harris said it "makes sense" that the Government would ask what is "the cause and effect" of that."
He said in the past when the Rwanda plan was adopted by a "very different British government" they never consulted the Irish Government and it resulted in a difference here to migration numbers.
"I think it is welcome that the Home Office is updating the Department of Justice here."
He said he knows Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is hoping to meet Britain's Home Secretary to discuss the changes.
Mr Harris said it is important also to have clarity around family reunification and around people who are not able to provide for themselves when they come here.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government is concerned by proposed changes to the UK's asylum policy as it will "inevitably" have an impact on migration here.
He said there are firm and robust rules and procedures in place here and that the Government must continue to keep the entire situation under review.
He said there will be a "tightening of the rules" and they are conscious of what is going on across Europe.
Mr Martin also said there has been a reduction in the number of people seeking asylum here this year.
