An amendment to a controversial law restricting the media's ability to report on asylum issues is due to be published before Easter, more than a year after the change was promised by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
Human rights groups and the National Union of Journalists have heavily criticised the censorial nature of the law, which requires ministerial consent before asylum-seekers can be identified by the media.
The reporting restriction is contained in section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996, which did not come into force until November 2000.
It requires the consent of the Minister for Justice before an asylum-seeker is identified in newspapers, radio or television. A breach of the provision carries a penalty of a €1,900 (£1,500) fine or 12 months imprisonment, or both.
Once the law is revised, only the informed consent of asylum-seekers themselves will be needed before they can be identified.
The amendment will be included in an entirely separate Bill which will introduce fines for airlines and ferry companies carrying undocumented migrants. A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform said the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Bill and the amendment would be published before Easter.
The carriers' legislation has been flagged already on several occasions, with the Minister, Mr John O'Donoghue, announcing its imminent introduction in November 1999 and again in November 2000.
Mr O'Donoghue had defended section 19 as a necessary measure to protect the privacy of asylum-seekers and their relatives and uphold the integrity of the asylum process.
However, refugee lobby groups said the measure restricts the freedom of expression of asylum-seekers and censors the media. Mr O'Donoghue promised to amend the provision last February. The NUJ has claimed that since that announcement the Department has been "turning a blind eye" to breaches of the law.
The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Bill proposes on the spot fines for airline companies and road hauliers found to be transporting people without proper travel documents.
Groups including Amnesty International and the Irish Refugee Council claimed last month that such measures will drive refugees into the hands of "ruthless traffickers and smugglers".
They have contacted the Minister's office to seek an urgent meeting about the proposed legislation, but no date has been agreed.