The Foreign Affairs Minister says the Mediterranean migrant crisis is now the biggest since the Second World War.
Charlie Flanagan was speaking ahead of a meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels - which could lead to a new naval force to intercept people smugglers before their boats reach European waters.
The meeting follows the deployment of the LE Eithne to take part in search and rescue operations this weekend.
Almost 70 Irish sailors and two army medics are joining the efforts to prevent more deaths as thousands continue to flee war torn countries through Africa in the hopes of getting to Europe.
The European Council President Donald Tusk says the Union can't welcome all migrants - and will need a return policy to tackle the problem.
So far this year almost 2,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean sea.
Minister Charlie Flanagan says the root of the crisis needs to be tackled first:
