A proposal for a new directive on common standards across the EU for deporting illegal immigrants was sent to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament yesterday.
Both bodies must approve the proposal before it can become part of EU law.
The directive proposed by the European Commission is aimed at people who entered a member state illegally, overstayed their visa or residence permit, or had their asylum claim rejected.
Ireland already has legal mechanisms in place for the removal of people in such circumstances.
Martin Territt, director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said he hoped the Government would lend its full support to the measure.
Following the adoption of the directive, Ireland has three months to decide whether to opt to be covered by this measure.
Currently member states' legislation on returning illegal immigrants differs widely. Both the terminology used in national legislation and the substantive provisions applying to return, removal, use of coercive force, temporary custody and re-entry are different from state to state, the commission said. This leads to difficulties in situations involving more than one member state.
"The objective of this proposal is to provide for clear, transparent and fair common rules concerning return, removal, use of coercive measures, temporary custody and re-entry while taking into full account the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of the persons concerned," the commission said.