There did not seem to be a proper assessment of what constituted a safe country of origin when people deemed to be illegal immigrants were deported, Mr John Connor (FG) said.
We had deported people to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was in the throes of a terrible civil war.
The House approved the referral to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights consideration of the exercise of the option which the State has to take part in the adoption and application of the proposal for a council directive on the minimum standards on procedures in member-states for the granting and withdrawing of refugee status.
Ms Mary Hanafin, Minister of State for Health and Children said this was the first in a series of measures aimed at creating a common European asylum system.