The Tánaiste has said he accepts there is a growing concern among the wider population about migration issues.
Last year, 13,561 people claimed international protection in Ireland.
The numbers have remained high in 2023 - 12 thousand 500 asylum seekers arrived here, up to the end of last week.
Micheál Martin says Ireland is not unique - he predicts migration will continue to be a “very dominant issue” within the European Union:
"I mean, we've had a three fold increase from pre-covid to post-covid years, in respect of those seeking international asylum. So it's about 15,000, or close to that per annum now. I think that was about 3,500 into 2019. And that's, of course, separate to up to 100,000 Ukrainians who have had to flee war, but it is very much a function of the international and global situation that we are in".
