Ireland has signed up to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.
Ireland voted by a narrow margin to opt into the pact following a Dail vote last night which was carried by 79 votes to 72.
It will result in legally-binding processing times for International Protection Applications.
It will also see a substantial increase in the number of staff processing applications, the building of new accommodation centres, enhanced border security and an increase in the collection of fingerprints.