Fingerprinting of asylum-seekers could be used to prevent multiple claims for social welfare, according to the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.

Introducing the "Eurodac" fingerprinting measure, which was adopted by the Dail without a vote, he said fingerprints would be entered in a European database and would enable EU member-states to detect and deter multiple asylum applications in the State and throughout countries which adopted the Dublin Convention.

He said Eurodac was an essential tool in discouraging abuse of asylum procedures. It would enable a member-state to check whether a person found illegally in its territory had claimed asylum in another member-state.

Mr O'Donoghue added that there was some evidence that some people were involved in multiple claims for social welfare. "In future the position will be that we will have fingerprints of all people who apply for asylum in this country and it will be possible to prevent multiple claims. That only applies to a minority but it is something about which my officials and I are concerned."

The Labour deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, expressed the "gravest misgivings" about supporting the proposal which "sends a dangerous signal". There would be an outcry if any other group was singled out for fingerprinting. However, the party did not oppose the measure.

Mr O'Donoghue said the numbers seeking asylum continued to rise. The number of asylum applicants so far this year had already exceeded the total for last year, with 4,636 applicants to October 6th.

Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, said that because it was the norm in other countries and in order to co-ordinate refugee policy and introduce a greater sense of cohesion, his party would not oppose the measure.

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said the proposal would "give effect to the further criminalisation of asylum-seekers in this State". It was a "further measure in exacerbating an uncomfortable climate for many people who come to our shores seeking asylum, the greater number of them deserving of a welcome and an opportunity".

Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist, Dublin West) opposed the measure which he described as an "extraordinarily sinister development". It was a "formula for forcibly fingerprinting people who are in a vulnerable position and for transmitting that personal information to the police forces, immigration authorities and God knows who else in every country in the EU".