Fianna Fail has circulated an internal memo to party backbenchers in response to the attack by the Progressive Democrats Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, on the Government's asylum-seekers policy.
The issuing of the two-page briefing note, strongly defending the party's action on asylum-seekers, is a sign of increasing tensions between the Government parties on the issue.
The memo is aimed at distancing the party from the PD criticism of the policy of the Government and the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, on asylum-seekers and refugees, Fianna Fail sources told The Irish Times.
Ms O'Donnell's comments, in which she described Government policy as "doom-laden and adhoc" and "a shambles" has infuriated some senior Ministers and party backbenchers.
The issue was raised at a meeting of the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party yesterday. However, it was agreed to give time for a full discussion on asylum-seekers at a later meeting.
Last night one of the Fianna Fail TDs who spoke at the meeting on asylum-seekers, the Dublin North West TD, Mr Noel Ahern, told The Irish Times of unhappiness in the party at Ms O'Donnell "breaking ranks and running off half-cocked".
"It is not showing political solidarity. She is running her own agenda or the PD agenda, I don't know. But it is not helping the stability of the Government. It will put stability to the test, even though it is a test I am sure we will pass," the brother of the Taoiseach said.
Mr Ahern said he was quite concerned about some Government decisions on asylum-seekers. "But I have conveyed that behind closed doors. Liz O'Donnell going off in her own direction has annoyed us," he added.
Mr Ahern said he was angered by the decision to allow asylum-seekers to work and the message it had sent abroad.
"There is concern, rightly or wrongly, amongst people who feel threatened by them and who feel they are in competition with them for housing and for jobs."
Mr Ahern said those asylum-seekers granted refugee status should be accommodated and integrated in communities.
The Fianna Fail memo which TDs received yesterday says: "Fianna Fail's role in Government in the development of a caring yet responsible policy on the asylum-seekers and refugees is a radical yet focused departure from the inaction of the previous rainbow administration."
The note, which TDs were told "not to use as a script", highlights the £5.3 million spent between January and June on social benefits and accommodation for asylum-seekers.
"It was Fianna Fail in Government who opened the `one-stop-shop' for asylum-seekers at Timberley House, Lower Mount Street, which opened for business in October 1998," the memo said. "In December 1996 there were 4 1/2 people assigned to full-time asylum duties . . . The Task Force has a current staff of 118 staff with nine vacancies, giving a total authorised complement of 127."
"Fianna Fail in Government were seriously concerned about the level of exploitation being perpetrated by organised criminal elements who arrange the movement of vulnerable individuals across borders in Europe under extremely dangerous conditions."
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach will chair a special meeting of members of the Cabinet and department secretaries-general next Monday to discuss the asylumseeker crisis.
The Ministers at the meeting will include: the Tanaiste, Ms Harney; the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue; the Minister for the Environment, Mr Martin; the Minister for Social, Community and Family affairs, Mr Ahern; the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy; and the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen. The secretaries-general of all those Departments will also attend.