The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has introduced new laws that aim to identify individuals who do not have the proper refugee status and are living in the country.
The International Protection Bill will also simplify the system of applying for refugee status in Ireland through the creation of a single application process.
The Department of Justice has said that asylum seekers would be treated with upmost respect and dignity throughout the process.
However, the minister also indicated the legislation would ensure people are deported more easily when they have no right to stay here.
“The introduction of the single procedure, together with other reforms in the proposed International Protection Bill, will allow us to efficiently grant international protection to those who are entitled to it.
“At the same time, it will identify, at a much earlier stage, persons who have no entitlement to stay in the State and who can safely return to their country of origin.”
A new unit called the Protection Office, will be established in the Department of Justice to oversee the process.
The minister will have the power to deport a person from prison and authorities will be able to detain those assigned for deportation at ports and airports.
The laws will also allow authorities to arrest people in their homes if they have failed to co-operate with deportation. The current eight-week maximum period for detention of failed applicants can also be extended.