A Cabinet minister says Ireland will lead the world in dealing with the refugee crisis - and consider asylum for thousands who need it.

Alan Kelly says Ireland's own history of migration means it has a moral duty to show leadership.

The minister says he will not suggest a fixed number of refugees who could seek asylum in Ireland - as it has not been agreed by Cabinet.

But he has denied that Ireland is only acting now because of the outcry over the photographs of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi:

Enda Kenny earlier described the plight of refugees coming to Europe as "a human catastrophe".

But the Taoiseach has stopped short of a commitment to increase the numbers who would be considered for asylum in Ireland.

Speaking in Paris after a meeting with President Francois Hollande, the Taoiseach said the images of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi had provoked "shock and rage" around the world, and that nobody could not be moved by the photographs that had emerged in the last 24 hours.

In Ireland, more than 11,000 people have signed a petition launched by campaign organisation Uplift, calling on the Governmnet to offer refuge to thousands - not hundreds - of people seeking refuge in Europe.

A Day of Action is also being planned for this Saturday to show solidarity with those involved in the crisis.

Director of Uplift Siobhain O'Donoghue spoke about the massive support she's seen for this petition:

Ireland’s response to the refugee crisis is a test for the country “as a republic and a society” according to Minister Aodhán O’Riordáin.

Speaking to Newstalk Lunchtime, the Labour TD said Ireland can take more people in than the already agreed 1,120, and said he believes the Irish people “are ahead of the politicians” on the issue.

The Minister for State for Equality, New Communities, Culture & National Drugs Strategy, said he believes Ireland will “increase our commitment” to take refugees “in the coming days and weeks.”

The image of a dead three-year-old Syrian boy lying face down in the breaking surf of a Turkish beach – having drowned along with his brother and mother - has sent shockwaves around the world and elicited perhaps the most empathic singular response yet to the escalating refugee crisis that has seen 2500 people drown in the Mediterranean this year trying to reach Europe, and hundreds of thousands attempt to enter Europe to escape conflict and persecution in countries such as Syria, Somalia, Libya and Eritrea.

Ireland is one of three EU member states currently have an opt-out of accepting a set number of refugees. Germany has welcomed refugees, and expects to take 800,000 this year. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom (other nations with an opt-out clause from accepting refugees as part of an EU wide effort) for their failure to do more.

“I think history will be very unkind to Ireland in years to come if we are seen not to have done our absolute best,” Mr O’Riordáin said.

Taking a lead on the issue, and coming out ahead of others, could give Ireland “moral authority”, Mr O’Riordáin said, “to point to other UK countries who are not doing what they should be doing.”

The debate has often been framed as the “migrant crisis”, although Mr O’Riordáin said there should be clarity on it as a refugee crisis.

“It is a refugee crisis, it’s not a migrant crisis. Migrants leave of their own choosing, refugees flee, so it is a refugee crisis,” he said.

Listen below to the full interview with Minister Aodhán O’Riordáin