Sinn Féin has called for the release of the Socialist Party politicians jailed for their part in anti-bin-charge protests last week.
After a five-man delegation of TDs visited TD Mr Joe Higgins and Fingal County Councillor, Ms Clare Daly today, Sinn Féin TD Mr Seán Crowe said both were in good spirits.
He said the one-month incarceration period was particularly difficult for Ms Daly who has been separated from her three-year-old child.
Mr Crowe accused the local authorities who have instructed bin men not to collect refuse from households where the charge has not been paid of being confrontational.
"I am calling the county managers to put an end to their gung-ho attitude to anti-bin charge protesters. They need to pull back from the brink and lessen the tensions around the whole issue," Mr Crowe said.
Protestors have been blocking bin collections and have picketed local authority offices and depots.
Mr Crowe also laid the blame for the jailing of the Socialist Party pair at the feet of the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen.
"Neither Joe or Clare would be in jail now if it were not for the cynical manipulation of the laws of this State and the obvious waste problems that exist by both the Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen and the County Managers of each local authority.
"There is no justification for the continued detention of Joe Higgins and Clare Daly and they should be immediately released," Mr Crowe added.
The other TDs in the delegation were: Mr John Gormley (Green Party); Mr Tommy Broughan (Labour); Mr Tony Gregory and Mr Finian McGrath (both independent).