The Justice Minister has described Donald Trump's policies on refugees as 'extraordinarily disappointing'.

Frances Fitzgerald says the executive order - which temporarily bans people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US and suspends the country's refugee programme - is "morally questionable".

The controversial order also indefinitely suspends the entry of Syrian refugees, with the order stating "the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States".

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan has said he expressed the concern of the Irish people over President Trump's immigration controls in a meeting at the White House.

Charlie Flanagan met the President Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn as part of his three-day visit to the US.

Quoted by The Irish Times, Minister Flanagan said: “Mr Flynn outlined the rationale for this order while I pointed out its damaging consequences in humanitarian terms, as well as for the international reputation of the United States.”

This morning, Minister Fitzgerald argued that the Government's response should focus on Trump's policies, and not on pre-clearance at Irish airports.

She says there needs to be a quick response to help refugees.

"We've never needed an international response to refugees more than the world needs it at present," she explained.

"In that context, what's happened in America is extraordinarily disappointing."

Additional reporting by Sean Defoe