Taoiseach Simon Harris has met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for discussions on Israel's attacks on UNIFIL positions in south Lebanon.
Both Italy and Spain have large contingents of UNIFIL peacekeepers in the area.
During their talks on the margins of the EU summit in Brussels, the Taoiseach set out his position that UNIFIL troops need to be protected and that Israel must respect its international law obligations, according to a Government spokesperson.
The three also discussed the broader situation in the Middle East, while the Taoiseach and Mr Sanchez separately exchanged views on the need for the EU to reflect on its policy and relationships in the region in light of the ICJ advisory opinion in July.
They agreed to maintain their call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
EU's migration system has to be 'firmer' - Taoiseach
Mr Harris said the EU's migration system has to be "firmer" and that the Government would be open to "innovative" solutions, potentially involving the outsourcing of asylum processing to third countries.
"We should never be afraid of looking at…innovative solutions. People in Ireland would be a bit perplexed if I was to shut down the conversation and say we will not discuss [such solutions]."
"People right across the European Union, including in Ireland, want to see governments getting a grip when it comes to the migration issue.
"Irish people are extremely fair. They're extremely compassionate. We get the benefits of migration. I know the benefits of migration, but Irish people also want to know that there's a firmness to the system, that there are rules, that the rules are applied," he said.
Mr Harris is attending a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels which will focus on the migration issue.
In a letter to EU leaders ahead of the meeting, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission would bring forward new legislation on returning migrants to their country of origin as well as the exploration of "innovative" solutions, such as hubs in third countries which would handle the deportation of migrants whose asylum applications on EU territory had been rejected.
Mr Harris said he would be willing to discuss such options, although he described the UK’s abortive plan to deport migrants directly to Rwanda as "downright stupid".
He told reporters: "Just because that model was wrong doesn't mean there aren't other ways. Europe, in the past, for example, has seen processing in different ways. So I think we should keep an open mind on all of this."
He welcomed President von der Leyen’s call for elements of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact to be brought forward and speeded up.
The pact was agreed by the EU in the spring, but will take two years to implement, with each member state tasked with streamlining systems which will allow the pact to work.
The Department of Justice has set up a dedicated unit to work on the pact, it is understood.
The pact envisages strengthened external borders, a quicker processing and returns policy, more partnerships with third countries - such as the controversial deal between the EU and Tunisia designed to prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean.
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Mr Harris said he would make the case to EU leaders that there are levers which should be used to persuade Israel to move towards a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, such as the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
"I will continue to make the case today that under the [International Court of Justice] advisory opinion from July, there is now an obligation on member states to act in terms of reviewing the EU Israel association agreement.
"I will continue to push this case. I will also explore formal ways to push it further in the days and weeks ahead, because this is an issue that needs to be resolved. But…the coalition Government remains intent on looking at what more we can do on a domestic level in terms of our own legislation."
Asked about the Tánaiste’s remarks about a pre-Christmas election, Mr Harris said: "I want the Government to finish the work that is underway. It is then obviously my constitutional prerogative to seek the most appropriate time, and in my view, in the best interest for Ireland to have a General Election.
"When is the right time for me to ask the people of Ireland to renew my mandate? I've been Taoiseach of this country for just over six months. I very much look forward to putting my case to the people and asking the people to give me an opportunity to have a mandate to be Taoiseach for the time ahead.
"I will want this Government to end well, because this Government works well, we've had four-and-a-half years, more than four-and-a-half years now, we've delivered five budgets, and I will discuss in due course, with my colleagues when I believe the right time is."
