A new EU law proposing a "white list" of states that are safe for unwanted asylum seekers to return to should be opposed by Ireland, Sinn Féin justice and human rights spokesman Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh said today.
His comments come as the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) released figures showing Ireland ranked 12th in Europe for accepting refugee applications.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said the white list proposal has been criticised by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) and could be contrary to international law.
He called on the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell to oppose the measure which is on the agenda at the meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels taking place today and tomorrow.
Mr Ó Snodaigh said: "There has been no public debate about Ireland's position on this proposal which has attracted major criticism from human rights groups.
They have warned that this measure could lead to people being returned to a dangerous situation in their home country, contrary to international law," Mr Ó Sondaigh said.
He criticised Mr McDowell's failure to state his position on the issue in advance of the meeting.
"Given his relentless assault on refugees since he assumed office in 2002, and his expressed disdain for the opinions of human rights experts, I have deep misgivings that he will rubber stamp this measure", he added.
Meanwhile, the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) released figures showing Ireland had taken in 879 refugees for the first eight months of the year. Around two thirds of those accepted gained acceptance on appeal.
As of August 31st, a total of 6,051 asylum applications had been processed at first instance this year, and 2,975 appeals. A backlog of 7,883 unprocessed cases - 5,171 at first stage and 2,712 at appeal - remain.
The IRC figures also indicate that 1,714 deportation orders were signed with 382 people actually deported. The countries to which deportations most commonly occurred were Romania, Czech Republic, Poland and South Africa.
Forty per cent new asylum applications this year were from either Nigeria while Romania at 10.6 per cent was the second most common source applicants.