Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said she "stands over" the figure that 80 per cent of asylum seekers arriving here have crossed the border from the North

It comes after an operation was undertaken in the city centre.

It comes amid a row between the UK and Ireland over migrants travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, and into the Irish State

The figure provided by the justice minister has been questioned by human rights and refugee organisations.

It comes as UK and Irish ministers are meeting in London following a fallout over migrants travelling to Northern Ireland and into the Irish state.

The latest figures show that more than 1,700 international protection applicants are waiting for an offer of accommodation.

The Taoiseach said Ireland could not guarantee accommodation for arriving asylum seekers

The Dublin III Regulation provides that a person can, with exceptions, be returned to the EU member state they first enter.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the asylum system should not be used as a ‘back way to economic migration’

The move is being considered to ensure more international protection applications are processed faster.