The Green Party has said it will oppose proposals to introduce detention centres for asylum seekers and has sought assurances that such facilities will not be provided for in the forthcoming Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill.
The Department of Justice confirmed in recent days that it was looking "very seriously" at bringing forward proposals, including legislative elements, for detaining selected asylum applicants while their cases are fast-tracked.
However, Green TD Ciarán Cuffe said: "I think it would be premature to introduce detention centres at this stage. What we need first and foremost is a more transparent processing system that adjudicates on cases in a timely manner."
Mr Cuffe said he had received assurances yesterday that provisions for detention centres would not be included in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill when it is published by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan in the coming weeks.
"I think we need a system that's clearer and more effective before considering such extreme measures as this," he added.
Detention is being considered to prevent the evasion of deportation orders by unsuccessful asylum applicants. Under any plan, selected claimants would be held while their papers passed through all stages of the process within days.
In the UK, asylum seekers from designated "safe" countries, because they are deemed most likely to have a groundless claim, are held in closed reception centres while their papers are examined.
Mr Cuffe said such a system would amount to "racial profiling" and said the Government would have to be "very cautious" about pursuing such a course.
Officials at the Department of Justice argue that the use of detention is recognised internationally as a tool in deterring unfounded claims for refugee status and say the proposals would bring Ireland into line with other EU states such as Denmark, the UK and the Netherlands.
They also insist that, should detention centres be introduced, "the same high standards of procedural fairness", including access to legal services and interpretation, would apply for those who were detained.
