Fine Gael's Regina Doherty is defending the Taoiseach's comments that Ireland should be "fair, firm and hard" on migration.

Leo Varadkar has faced some criticism from campaigners, after making the remarks in Brussels earlier this week.

Ailbhe Smyth from the anti-racism Le Chéile alliance described the comments as an "unhelpful" and an indication of "a hardening of attitudes" among the government, which has come under pressure from protestors in recent weeks.

"There are some frailties in our system."

Senator Regina Doherty told The Anton Savage Show that Ireland will continue to help asylum seekers, but it must also be mindful that our current system is open to abuse.

"We have not only a human obligation, but an international legal obligation to look after people fleeing persecution or war", she said.

"But we do have to acknowledge and address that there are some frailties in our system."

"There are some indications that people are coming here because they're being told that it's easier to get asylum here than it is, or it's easier to get work here, or it's easier to get accommodation here."

'Waking up'

Former Justice Minister, Senator Michael McDowell, said Ireland is a preferred asylum-seeking destination "because our system is broken".

He said he believes the Government is "finally waking up" to the issue.

It comes as tougher rules for asylum seekers whose refugee applications are denied have been drawn up by European Union leaders.

The agreement at an EU summit, attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is in response to growing concern among member states about a surge in people seeking asylum.

While the Government here is to speed up checks on those arriving in Ireland from so-called 'safe' countries.

"It requires a very conscious decision to come to Ireland."

Senator McDowell told The Hard Shoulder questions need to be asked as to why people are going out of their way to come here.

"Ireland ended up being one of the top four preferred destinations for asylum seekers," he said.

"There are no direct flights, and to be honest, it requires a very conscious decision to come to Ireland.

"We have to ask ourselves: why is Ireland a preferred destination for asylum seeking?

"If the answer isn't economic, it's because our system is broken and there are no real prospects of failure".

Listen back to the full conversation here.