The Irish Refugee Council has criticised the Government's apparent plans to force all non-EU citizens in Ireland to carry bio-metric ID cards.

Reports this morning say the measure will be included in new immigration legislation currently being finalised by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice.

The Refugee Council says it appreciates the Government's need to monitor the immigration system, but ID cards are not the answer.

Spokesperson Louise Moore said today that everybody in Ireland, whether they are illegal immigrants or not, are entitled to privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights.