The chances of repatriation to Irish soil of the "Colombia Three" would not be guaranteed in the event of their reimprisonment.
Jim Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley, who were sentenced to 17 years in prison on charges they gave bomb-making lessons to the Farc rebel group, remain at large.
Under normal circumstances Irish prisoners serving sentences abroad could be transferred to an Irish prison under an international treaty but the Colombian government has not signed up to the European Convention on the Treaty of Sentenced Persons Act.
Speaking in Brussels, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, last night raised the prospect of repatriation if the men exhausted all legal avenues and remained in jail.
The Government would make representations to the Colombian government "to see if there is any way we can get some alleviation in relation to the issue," he said. This could include efforts to seek the repatriation of the prisoners.
Ireland does not have an extradition agreement with Colombia and the men's status if they were to resurface in Ireland remains unclear. The Department of Justice told ireland.comit would not comment on "hypothetical situations".
Supporters of the three believe the men would face possible assassination if they returned to prison in Colombia.
The main danger to the men's safety would come from right-wing paramilitaries who are the sworn enemies of Farc.
