The chairman of the Eastern Health Board and Fianna Fail TD, Mr Ivor Callely, last night called on the Government to "get tough" on asylum-seekers and to "throw out" illegal immigrants.
The Dublin North Central TD claimed Ireland has become a "soft target" for illegal immigrants and strong leadership must be shown on the issue.
He said many were coming into the State to "cash in on the benefits" available.
The Eastern Health Board is responsible for accommodating the bulk of the State's asylum-seekers. There are more than 8,000 asylum-seekers in its area awaiting an official decision on their application. All the EHB's 2,600 "emergency" beds are full.
Mr Callely is the second Fianna Fail backbencher this week to express concern about asylum-seekers. On Wednesday, Dublin North West TD Mr Noel Ahern said there was "concern, rightly or wrongly, amongst people who feel threatened by them and who feel they are in competition with them for housing and jobs".
Mr Callely told The Irish Times last night: "The Department of Justice has information and intelligence to indicate there are great abuses of the system. If people are known to be abusing the system, be tough and throw them out. Send them back."
He said the State should honour all its obligations in relation to genuine refugees but should not be accommodating bogus and rogue asylum-seekers. "I am concerned about the block of people coming to Ireland to cash in on the benefits asylum-seekers are able to claim".
Mr Callely criticised the Progressive Democrat Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, for a newspaper interview in which she described the Government policy on asylum-seekers as a "shambles".
He said: "I have a gut feeling that tells me that while there can be political correctness we cannot condone political recklessness. Millions of pounds have been spent on asylum-seekers this year. To be misspending money on people who have no right to come and claim asylum in Ireland is wrong."
Mr Callely claimed that there was an attempt at the Fianna Fail parliamentary party this week to prevent a discussion on the subject.