Tensions between the Government parties are set to increase further after the PD Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell maintained she had brought about radical changes in Government immigration and asylum policy by criticising it as "a shambles" 10 days ago.
Ms O'Donnell's claim last night came as the Government moved rapidly to prepare measures designed to counter criticism. Just 90 minutes before Ms O'Donnell's comments, the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, promised to update asylum and immigration law, while Ministers and officials began working out details of a hastily announced new policy of granting work visas to non-EU nationals.
Ms O'Donnell maintained last night "things have begun to happen" only since she publicly criticised Government policy. Her claims will anger Fianna Fail backbenchers, some of whom have already criticised her over her original remarks in a Sunday Business Post interview.
Ms O'Donnell, who said she was speaking as a PD Minister and on behalf of her party, told The Irish Times last night that as a result of her intervention the Taoiseach had called a meeting of Ministers on the issue, "a democratic debate has started in the Dail and in civil society", the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice were now urgently preparing an immigration and asylum policy and in future this policy would "be informed by human rights considerations".
She would support the Government in tonight's vote of no confidence in Mr O'Donoghue because "I've been reassured by the Tanaiste, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice that a totally new approach is being taken on this issue".
She defended and repeated her criticisms of Government policy, saying she did not regret "in the slightest" voicing them. She said she had had to listen to extremely offensive comment, some of which had been xenophopic and intolerant, from some Fianna Fail backbenchers and she said she felt "perfectly justified in defending my position".
Her comments are likely to anger Fianna Fail Ministers, after the Government made a concerted effort to be seen to move on the issue. Responding to an Opposition motion of no confidence in him in the Dail last night, Mr O'Donoghue committed himself to bringing immigration and asylum law "up to date with contemporary values and realities" and said all immigrants, regardless of their status must be protected from "criminal or racist attack".
One of the planned changes is understood to be a new name for the Aliens Office.
Mr O'Donoghue strongly emphasised the rights of refugees and deplored "the evils of racism". The Government amendment to the motion, while defending the Government's record on the issue, stressed "the urgent need to promote tolerance and respect for diversity in our society".
Emphasising the rushed nature of the announcement of the planned work visa scheme, there was confusion last night as to whether legislation would be needed to implement it, or whether it could be done by amending existing regulations. It will allow non-EU nationals to come to Ireland to seek work rather than insisting they first have a job offer from an employer who is willing to obtain a work permit on their behalf.