The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is to hold talks with his Colombian counterpart about three IRA-linked fugitives on the fringes of the UN World Summit in New York, it was claimed tonight.
Department of Justice officials confirmed today that officials were still considering the extradition documents sent by Bogota authorities.
Sources close to Mr Ahern say he is seeking a meeting with Foreign Minister Carolina Barco before the three-day summit winds up tomorrow evening.
"Mr Ahern is anxious to speak to Minister Barco on the issue while both are attending the same event," one official said.
Minister Barco confirmed yesterday that the extradition documents had been sent via diplomatic routes to the Irish Government on the alleged IRA members convicted on appeal last December of training Farc rebels.
"The Irish government now has everything it needs to make a decision. We have received a response saying the Irish government is interested in studying, very carefully, the possibility of extradition according to Irish law," Minister Barco added.
A Department of Justice spokesman said: "Officials are still considering the documents." The Colombian government has said it wants to have James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley returned to the South American country to serve their 17 years in jail.
The Government has said that any request to return the three men would have to be considered by the country's courts. As no extradition treaty exists between the two states, doubt has been cast on whether any such move could be successful.