European Union nations have backed a significant tightening of migration rules, including allowing for “return hubs” for failed asylum-seekers to be set up outside the 27-country bloc.
Interior ministers meeting in Brussels greenlighted measures first put forward by the European Commission as EU countries face growing public pressure to curb migration.
The steps need to be approved by the European Parliament before coming into force.
Ireland was expected to opt for a financial contribution to frontline migration states in an emergency situation rather than take in migrants from those member states.
The EU Migration Pact was proposed following major migration flows around a decade ago in which Greece and Italy had to initially cope with large numbers of migrants fleeing the Syrian civil war as well as migrant flows across the Mediterranean.
The pact will provide for swifter screening of migrants with greater security and health checks, and a more streamlined returns system.
There will also be a so-called solidarity pool.
In situations where frontline states are suddenly receiving large numbers of migrants, other member states would agree to share the burden by either taking in some of those individuals for screening, or pay into a common migration fund.
Ireland was expected to opt for the latter. The European Commission has designated Ireland as being under migratory pressure because of a shortage of accommodation and reception facilities.
Ministers are also negotiating a returns regulation to replace an earlier directive.
Figures show that only 20% of asylum seekers who have had their applications rejected are returned to their country of origin.
The new regulation would broaden the grounds for detention pending a return agreement, and would permit the return of a failed asylum seeker to their own country, or a safe third country without their consent.
Additional reporting Tony Connelly