The Taoiseach firmly ruled out the introduction of detention centres for asylum-seekers despite saying in Australia a week ago that it was an option he would neither rule in nor rule out.
In his first public comments on the issue since then, Mr Ahern said last night that he wanted to make it clear that he never visited a detention centre on his Australian trip. The only reason he said he would look at that country's system was because he was asked about it, "standing beside the Prime Minister of that country".
Earlier, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said her party did not favour the use of detention centres for asylum-seekers and the Government had no plans to introduce them.
She said there was an obvious accommodation crisis and other ways had to be found of housing "the huge numbers of people that are currently arriving in Ireland".
The Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, welcomed Ms Harney's remarks. "It is very difficult to put anything other than a cynical interpretation on the Taoiseach's remarks of last week," he said.
While in Australia, Mr Ahern described the Australian system, which includes mandatory detention of people considered unlawful non-citizens, as "food for thought". Speaking following a visit to the Migrant Resource Centre at Campsie on the outskirts of Sydney, he said the Australian system was "the best integrated system in the world".
Mr Ahern faces tough questioning on the issue in the Dail today. The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, and the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, have both tabled questions about the matter.
The Taoiseach said last night that he is not at odds with the Tanaiste on the subject. Ms Harney said yesterday that she personally was not in favour of the concept of detention centres but added: "I haven't had an opportunity to discuss the Taoiseach's remarks with him."
Asked last night if he was planning to discuss the issue with the Tanaiste, Mr Ahern said: "Sure I talk to the Tanaiste every day about everything. I am not going to say I agree the issue of detention centres is now off the agenda. It was never on it."
The Irish Times learned last night that the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, is to seek Cabinet approval next Tuesday for an integrated asylum-seeker plan to include reception centres and the dispersal of asylum-seekers around the State.
Mr Ahern said last night that Ireland was out of line with Europe on reception centres and that we were preparing a new policy on reception and integration.
He said that in Australia he visited an integration centre and was surprised when he came home to see reports that he had visited a detention centre, a prison and "all kinds of other places".
"What I attended was an excellent integration centre which is involved in integrating asylum-seekers and refugees into Australian society, dealing with language training, dealing with counselling, dealing with job placement issues.
"I was asked what did I think of the system. I was standing beside the Prime Minister who invited me and I gave a very short answer . . . I didn't rule it in and I didn't rule it out."