The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is totally opposed to detention centres for refugees, its Irish representative, Mr Michael Lindenbauer, told The Irish Times last night.
Mr Lindenbauer said the UNHCR has in the past "commended" the Government for some of its positive asylum policies, including the fact that we do not have detention and that we provide free legal aid for those seeking refugee status.
He said he is seeking urgent clarification from the Taoiseach's Department on what Mr Ahern said in Australia yesterday in relation to the UNHCR and its views of Ireland's handling of the asylum issue.
He refused to comment directly on what the Taoiseach said before clarification.
"What I will say is that detention of asylum-seekers is undesirable and we hope Ireland will not introduce it in the future." He revealed that he met senior Department of Justice officials earlier this week to discuss recent reports that the Government is looking at the possibility of using "flotels" off the coast and pavilion-type structures to accommodate asylum-seekers.
The Taoiseach's brother, Dublin North West TD Mr Noel Ahern, told TV3 News last night that the introduction of detention for asylum-seekers was against everything that Fianna Fail stood for.
He said the Taoiseach was in Australia looking at other systems but there was "no prospect" of Ireland introducing detention. Meanwhile, the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said the Taoiseach's comments were a subtle attempt to get people who have irrational fears about those of a different race to vote for Fianna Fail. He said the remarks, when taken in conjunction with sentiments expressed by other Fianna Fail members, stigmatise asylum-seekers as people who should not be allowed to mix with ordinary Irish people.
The Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, called on the Taoiseach to produce a basis for the claim that Ireland's refugee application system was criticised by the UNHCR as being "too liberal". He said: "This would not be the first time this Government appears to have misrepresented the standpoint of the UNHCR in relation to the adequacy of asylum procedures. "In 1997 Minister John O'Donoghue was forced to withdraw his claim that the UNHCR had described the Irish system as a model for other countries."
The Workers Party described Mr Ahern's comments as "bizarre and extremely disturbing".