The Dáil vote to opt into the EU Migration Pact has been deferred until next week.
The Government said there were a number of speakers who want to contribute to the debate on the Pact and more time will be made available next week.
However, they were accused of being tactical and the opposition called a vote seeking to conclude the debate tonight.
However, this was defeated on a margin of 74 votes to 68 which means that the decisive Dáil vote on the Migration Pact will not now take place until next week.
Earlier, the debate on the Pact heard that when tackling migration, Ireland must look across the EU in its search for solutions rather than isolate itself.
"Ireland cannot deal with migration on its own," Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan said during a Dáil debate on the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which began yesterday and concludes this evening.
He insisted that fundamental rights are enshrined in the pact, including the best interests of children and free access to legal representation.
It will streamline procedures, lead to "a more predictable, coordinated and humane response", create more secure borders and speed up the processing of asylum applications.
The Government announced in March that it would be opting into the pact, which will introduce legally-binding processing times.
If, as expected, the Government wins the Dáil vote, the EU Asylum and Migration Pact would require that it substantially increase the number of staff processing applications, build new processing and accommodation centres, enhance border security and increase the collection of fingerprints.
These would be uploaded to the Eurodac database that documents international protection applicants, or those who have crossed a border illegally, across the EU and other European countries, including Switzerland and Norway.
However, the pact has provoked controversy, with critics claiming that it is heavy-handed. Opposition parties are voting against it.
Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly accused the Government of "kite-flying, denial and failure to engage with local communities".
She and other local representatives find out through the media about plans to situate asylum seeker accommodation, the deputy told the Dáil.
Ireland must opt out of the majority of the pact's provisions, otherwise the hands of future Irish governments will be tied, she said.
"We have considerations that no other countries have, as we are in the Common Travel Area," she said, urging that this be used to allow Ireland to opt out.
