Tánaiste Micheál Martin has dismissed as "absolutely unacceptable" comments made by two Fianna Fáil councillors who criticised the Government's policy on migration.
The councillors were speaking after a fire broke out at the Ross Lake Hotel in Rosscahill, Co Galway, at the weekend, which was due to house 70 international protection applicants.
Gardaí are treating the fire as arson.
Councillor Séamus Breathnach said that if the fire was criminal damage then it was prompted by the senseless policy of the Government.
Meanwhile, Councillor Noel Thomas told RTÉ's Morning Ireland yesterday that the "inn is full" and Ireland should not accept any more refugees.
The comments by the councillors have been referred to the party's internal rules and procedures committee.
The Tánaiste said accommodating migrants had been the Government policy for a number of decades under European Union rules and the Geneva Convention.
He also said there was no link between migrants and bad behaviour.
Asked if the two councillors should be expelled from the party, Mr Martin said he could not pre-empt the process.
He also said the Government must create a better narrative around communicating the issue of migration.
Mr Martin said people can experience fear and there is an obligation to ease any concerns but it is important to have an "evidence-based approach".
He said the broader story of migration has been positive and there had been no appreciable increase in crime in any location of migrant centres over decades.
Speaking yesterday, Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman said the hotel fire "was deeply sinister".
"We have about 200 people who are unaccommodated right now and being able to use this hotel would have enabled us to provide a substantial body of that people with international protection," he said.
It comes as the number of unaccommodated international protection applicants now stands at 259 according to the Department of Integration.
