Paschal Donohoe and Simon Harris appear to have different views on what to do about immigration. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Did you notice the Cabinet rift starting to open on immigration? You might have missed it. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe was reported as backing up comments by Tánaiste Simon Harris who said rules needed to be tightened. And he did, to the extent that he said proper controls were needed on the asylum process.

But while Harris went on subsequently to say that he believed overall immigration was too high – including the numbers coming here to work as well as those seeking asylum, Donohoe’s comments were different. He underlined that having an open economy and society had been “tremendously important” for Ireland.

He added: “If we are going to, and I believe we should, maintain support for that openness in the future and make the case for the value of openness, we need rules to do that.”

[ Cliff Taylor: Tánaiste Simon Harris is trying to have it both ways on the festering immigration debateOpens in new window ]

The Government is clearly tightening the rules on asylum seekers, which is one aspect of immigration. A new EU pact on the topic, to which Ireland is broadly signing up, will continue this trend.

But Harris has also said he believes that too many people are coming here on the other main rout