The Taoiseach and six of his Ministers yesterday met senior officials to attempt to devise a response to the recent controversy over the State's policy on immigration, asylum-seekers and refugees.
An interim report will be discussed at today's Cabinet meeting, and an inter-departmental committee on immigration is to prepare a comprehensive policy document for next week's Cabinet meeting.
Yesterday's meeting, which lasted almost two hours, was chaired by Mr Ahern, who tabled a "schedule of points" on immigration policy arising from recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues.
The Taoiseach is understood to have indicated that a comprehensive set of proposals on immigration should be prepared as early as possible. The final Government package is likely to involve some legislative changes.
However, Department of Justice sources last night played down reports that the Minister, Mr O'Donoghue, was considering the establishment of an independent immigration agency. The Minister is expected to announce increased funding and more staff to deal with the issues posed by the increasing number of people who are seeking asylum in the State.
Among other measures under consideration are the demands on accommodation, the regional spread of asylum-seekers and a medical screening programme for immigrants.
Alongside these measures the Government is expected to sanction a significant increase in the number of work visas for non-EU citizens to address the problems experienced by employers in filling job vacancies.
Yesterday's meeting followed two weeks of controversy over the Government's policy on asylum-seekers and refugees. The Progressive Democrats Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, had described the Government's policy as a "shambles".
Mr O'Donoghue presented a discussion paper to yesterday's meeting which took on board the views of several Government Departments on the subject of immigration policy.
While a Government spokesman last night described the meeting as "productive and constructive", there was no indication that the Coalition partners were close to agreement on policy. However, it was confirmed that the Government will not consider introducing an amnesty for refugees who are already illegally resident in the State.
Besides the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, yesterday's meeting was attended by four other members of the Cabinet: the Tanaiste, Ms Harney; the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern; the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey; and the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen.
The Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, and the Minister of State, Ms O'Donnell, were also present at the meeting, as were senior officials from several Government Departments and a representative of the Eastern Health Board.