The Government is to press ahead with a set of policies on the refugee/asylum-seeker issue, despite Opposition criticism. At the weekend 43 asylum-seekers from Africa and Eastern Europe arrived in Rosslare by boat from France.
The Taoiseach will be pressed in the Dail this week to clarify the controversial remarks on detention centres and immigration policy which he made during his visit to Australia.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, will soon bring proposals to Cabinet for facilities to deal with asylum-seekers.
An official source said Mr O'Donoghue's proposals would "tighten up" the ability of non-nationals to gain access to the State illegally and also the procedures for determining whether they can remain here.
As a result of new measures in Britain, existing arrangements for asylum-seekers will be changed from direct cash welfare payments to a voucher system.
A Government spokesman ruled out any introduction of Australian-type detention centres: "There will be no interning of asylum-seekers," he said.
Mr Ahern returned from Washington on Saturday, ending a 2 1/2-week series of foreign engagements in Australia, East Timor and the United States. The opposition parties have tabled a series of Dail questions seeking clarification of the Government's position on various aspects of immigration policy.
The Fine Gael spokesman on justice, Mr Jim Higgins last night said the nature of the Taoiseach's comments were "regressive, crude and primitive". He said the issues associated with refugees and asylum-seekers "were manageable if adequate resources were allocated". All the "vibes from the Government on this issue have been negative" and the Taoiseach's remarks in Australia were "tantamount to whipping up public hysteria".
The Labour Party spokesman on justice, Mr Brendan Howlin, said the Government was presiding over a policy that was "a shambles". The Taoiseach should tell the Dail this week just where the Government stands. "We first hear about floatels, then tent-like cities, then it's detention centres and the latest suggestions is for reception centres. Just what are they suggesting?" he asked.
Mr Howlin said the people like the 43 asylum-seekers who arrived in his Wexford constituency had virtually no structures available to them and "needed resources for accommodation and the fast-tracking of their applications".
Despite public criticism of the Taoiseach for his remarks by the chairman of the Progressive Democrats, Mr John Minihan, the Tanaiste and other PD ministers have so far declined to comment on the controversy.
A number of different approaches used in other countries are being considered by the Government, including centralised facilities described as "reception centres" to provide short-term accommodation for new arrivals while their applications are being processed.
Health screening would be provided before asylum-seekers leave these centres, while it is likely that fingerprinting of all applicants will be introduced.
Quite separately, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, is preparing a system to grant work visas to immigrants.