The Dublin West TD, Mr Liam Lawlor, left Leinster House this evening without talking to waiting media.
He had spent four hours in his offices this afternoon after leaving Mountjoy Prison where he was serving a week-long prison sentence for contempt of court.
He left at 2.25 p.m. through the prison's front gates in a convoy of three vans. Despite a large media presence, Lawlor failed to make a personal appearance and has refused to talk to the press.
A large crowd had gathered at both the front and back entrances to the jail in anticipation of the release.
He was jailed last Wednesday for seven days for contempt following his failure to co-operate fully with the Flood tribunal.
Lawlor has until the end of March to either comply with the tribunal or serve the remainder of the three-month sentence imposed by the High Court.
He may face fresh questioning by the tribunal over allegations by a Sunday newspaper that he destroyed documents and papers relevant to the tribunal the day before he went to jail.
Yesterday the Sunday Worldhanded over the remains of the papers which the paper said were found near Mr Lawlor's Lucan home. Lawyers for the tribunal contacted the paper requesting the documents which included credit card statements and other personal papers.
On Sunday, the paper published creased and burned pages it said were found on the road after they blew off a bonfire at Lawlor’s house.