Government officials have visited a detention centre for asylum-seekers in Britain operated by a private security firm.
The centre, a former RAF barracks in Oakington, Cambridgeshire, holds up to 400 new asylum-seekers while their claims are processed on a "fast track". Asylum-seekers are not allowed to leave without permission.
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed that representatives from the Directorate for Asylum-Seeker Services and the Office of Public Works visited the centre at the end of last month.
The spokesman said the purpose of the visit was to examine management structures used in a centre of its size. Asked whether the Government was considering opening such a centre in Ireland, he replied: "We are currently looking at the best practice in other EU countries with a view to providing an efficient and effective management solution for the Irish accommodation for asylum-seekers."
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, firmly ruled out the introduction of detention centres for asylum-seekers last March. During an earlier visit to Australia, Mr Ahern generated political controversy when he said he would neither rule in nor rule out the introduction of detention centres.
The Oakington centre, which opened last March, is run by Group 4 Security. Its perimeter is ringed by 8ft chain-link fencing topped with barbed wire, and security gates are supervised 24 hours a day.
The Irish Refugee Council said last night it would be concerned if the Government intended to use the Oakington centre as a model. "We are against detention of asylum-seekers, and if they are housed in reception centres which have locks on the doors and don't allow asylum-seekers to leave at will, then that is a detention centre by another name," said the council's legal officer, Mr Dug Cubie.
The British government intends to process up to 13,000 new asylum applications per year through the Oakington centre. Would-be refugees sent to the centre are provided with advice and representation, but their applications are processed within about seven days compared to the 13 months it takes for those living in the community.
The centre is equipped with a gymnasium, a football pitch, a tennis court, a library and TV lounges. It is the first centre in Britain to be used to detain asylum-seekers whose applications are being "fast-tracked".
The UNHCR says the detention of asylum-seekers is "inherently undesirable". Its guidelines suggest a series of alternatives to detention.