The Minister for Social and Family Affairs is to introduce social welfare regulations "no less robust" than those announced in Britain, in the run-up to the May accession of 10 new countries to the EU.
Ms Coughlan told the Dáil that Britain had now put in place a series of measures, which "will restrict access, including a new workers' registration scheme and new condition on qualifications for social welfare payments".
She said: "I will not allow our social welfare system to become overburdened and I will be taking steps to ensure that the system is protected."
However, the Labour Party has warned that the Government must ensure it does not infringe treaty laws in the measures it introduces, and be forced to face the European Court of Justice. The party's spokesman, Mr Willie Penrose, said people should not get carried away in an "hysterical over-reaction to supposed welfare tourists".
The steps contemplated should be "fair, reasonable and proportionate responses" to the evolving situation and should ensure "we are not hauled before the European Court of Justice because of the measures we introduce which may be perceived as an infringement of treaty law".
The Minister said the measures would be at least as robust as those in Britain, but would be "sensible, considered and reasonable".
The Government had given a commitment that EU citizens who wanted to come and work in Ireland from May 1st could do so "and we will honour that commitment. We have a strong economy and we will welcome people who want to come here to work."
Ms Coughlan pointed out that last year 47,000 permits were issued to non-nationals to help Irish business meet its labour supply requirements and the Department of Employment estimated that as much as 70 per cent to 80 per cent of that requirement this year would be met by workers from accession countries.
The Minister said that because of Ireland's common area with Britain "it is now important that we put in place some conditions".
The Minister was speaking during an introductory debate on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, one of two pieces of legislation to give effect to the implementation of the €630 million Budget package which will bring social welfare spending this year to over €11.26 billion.
