Tension has arisen within the Government over the controversial proposal to accommodate asylum-seekers in "flotels" in ports around the State.
The plan is due to come before the Cabinet tomorrow following intensive discussions in recent days involving the Taoiseach, ministers and officials.
However, clear differences have emerged, with the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, facing stiff opposition from the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr Martin Cullen.
It is understood that Mr Cullen believes Irish ports - particularly his home port of Waterford - are not suitable for the berthing of "flotels". He is seeking a meeting with Mr O'Donoghue.
The differences of opinion on "flotels" emerged after the Taoiseach intervened at the weekend to ensure that the radical set of measures to deal with asylum-seekers coming into the State would be ready to go before the Cabinet tomorrow.
The Department of Justice said on Friday that the asylum package, which includes proposals for dispersal of asylum-seekers as well as the "flotel" plan, would not go to Cabinet until Tuesday of next week.
However, The Irish Times has learned that, on his return to Dublin from Lisbon on Friday evening, Mr Ahern let it be known that he wanted the plan ready for Cabinet tomorrow. Officials in the Department of Justice and the OPW have been working over the weekend preparing a Cabinet memorandum.
A Government source said last night that the Taoiseach had spent the weekend going through the proposals on the asylum issue.
"The paperwork is not yet finalised and a lot of work will be required to have a final proposal ready for Cabinet on Tuesday." The source added that the Taoiseach was taking a "hands-on" approach.
Mr Ahern is still angered by claims that he purposely floated the idea in Australia that Ireland should look at the option of introducing detention centres for asylum-seekers.
He is concerned that what is being proposed will still not be adequate to accommodate the 1,000 or so asylum-seekers who enter the State each month.
The Department of Justice and the OPW have been working together in recent months on accommodation provision for asylum-seekers. Officials have inspected "flotels" and "pavilions" in six European countries.
While Mr Cullen is satisfied that "flotels" would provide suitable and adequate accommodation, he is concerned that the fast-flowing tidal conditions in Waterford port would not be suitable for berthing one there. He feels that other ports might be unsuitable for similar reasons.
Mr Cullen has made the point that the "flotels" viewed by officials in Europe in recent weeks were berthed in calm waters.
A source close to the Minister of State said last night: "He is worried that we are charging ahead full steam on the `flotel' idea without assessing the plan thoroughly."
The Mayor of Waterford, Mr Pat Hayes, said last week that accommodating asylum-seekers on a "floating hotel" was not the way to deal with immigrants.
An OPW spokeswoman confirmed last night that, if the Government agreed to the option, it was likely that the "flotels" would be leased from a Liverpool-based company, Bibbyline.
Meanwhile, up to 1,000 new bed spaces are due to become available for asylum-seekers in hostels, hotels and guest houses around the State next month.
The OPW has been inspecting various accommodation sites on behalf of the Directorate for Asylum-Seeker Services set up by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The new accommodation stock includes the Parnell West Hotel in Parnell Square, Dublin, which was bought by the Department of Justice for £2.5 million.
It is understood that the Department is completing deals to lease about 500 beds in two hotels in Co Cork, one in Rosslare, Co Wexford, and hostels in Tralee and in Co Carlow. The minimum lease on such properties is 12 months, but this is open to negotiation.
As part of the Government's "direct provision" programme, asylum-seekers living in this type of accommodation will be on full board, which includes three daily meals. They will receive £15 per week per adult to purchase "extra comforts".