The three Irishmen held in jail in Colombia since August are to be visited next month by former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr David Andrews.
The visit will not have the official sanction of the Government, but the Irish Embassy in Mexico will offer diplomatic assistance, if this is requested.
The three, Mr Niall Connolly, Mr James Monaghan and Mr Martin McCauley, have been locked up for 23 hours a day in tiny prison cells, campaigners on their behalf allege.
The request to the former minister to travel came last month from the Connolly family, many of whom live in his D·n Laoghaire constituency.
Questioned by The Irish Times, Mr Andrews declined to comment on the trip, though it is understood he intends to press for the men to be held in safer conditions.
No meetings have yet been arranged, but campaigners are hopeful he may meet the Colombian president, Mr Andres Pastrana and other leading politicians.
During a meeting with members of the Connolly family last month, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, indicated that "someone should go down there", a senior source told The Irish Times.
However, the Government spokesman said yesterday: "Mr Andrews is not going as our representative. But if he is going down there as a parliamentarian the embassy staff in Mexico will naturally offer assistance." Mr Andrews played an influential role during the 1980s during the campaigns to free the Birmingham Six, the Guildford Four and the Maguire Seven.
The three arrested in Bogota in August are held on suspicion of training members of the left-wing FARC militia and for travelling on false passports.
Represented by volunteer lawyers, they have been in custody without bail since their arrest. The Colombian authorities have 240 days to prepare prosecutions.
