The Minister for Justice has asked for a report from his officials into the role of the Traveller lobby group Pavee Point in the recent Roma controversy.
Brian Lenihan is also reviewing immigration legislation to see if it is strong enough to deal with cases such as that involving the group of more than 100 Roma. They were repatriated this week after camping in Dublin on an M50 roundabout for almost two months.
Mr Lenihan said he would be concerned if any group in receipt of State funding was encouraging new arrivals to undermine Irish legislation.
"Of course I'm concerned if any organisation was involved in actively encouraging people who have arrived here to set aside the laws of the State. That isn't acceptable behaviour."
He was speaking at a passing out ceremony at the Garda Training College, Templemore, Co Tipperary.
"If their [Pavee Point's] involvement was simply to provide humanitarian assistance to these individuals, then I do understand their position. But if their position was that these individuals should be permitted to stay here and that we should set aside the whole immigration law of the State and have a back-door entry policy, then that would be wrong.
"The good news is that all of the individuals involved voluntarily agreed to return to Romania and left on a flight. Naturally I'm reviewing this case, both in terms of the legislation and whether it is robust enough to deal with this type of emergency, and secondly, to see if organisations which are funded by the exchequer here are performing their correct roles."
The role played by some organisations in the controversy "seems confusing"; however, it was incumbent on him to review the report he had requested before passing judgment. He would not say if Pavee Point's funding was at risk.
Pavee Point has defended its role in relation to the Roma families. Martin Collins, its representative on the European Roma Traveller Forum, said the organisation had not deviated from its remit. It had "never ever" attempted to undermine or question the integrity of the Department of Justice or the courts to decide on the fate of the families.
"Pavee Point's exclusive concern from the very start was the humanitarian crisis on the M50 roundabout."
The organisation would assist any departmental inquiry and believed its role would stand up to any scrutiny.
The Traveller group provided assistance to the Roma families while they were camped at the Ballymun interchange on Dublin's M50 and highlighted the plight of the Roma community in Romania. However, the Romanian embassy in Dublin accused it of misrepresenting the group's plight in their home country.
The controversy was brought to a close on Wednesday when an aircraft chartered by the Garda National Immigration Bureau transported the Romas back to northern Romania. They agreed to return voluntarily, negating the need for the execution of deportation papers served on them.
Meanwhile, Crosscare, the social care agency of the Dublin diocese, has called on Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche to use his office to influence the Romanian authorities to improve the conditions of Roma people. Crosscare provided food, clothes and showering facilities to the Roma families on the M50.