A new organisation for ex-prisoners - Coiste na nIarchimi - has been launched by republican former prisoners in Belfast. The group will coordinate the work of 17 local prisoners' aid groups.
At the launch, Mr Gerry Kelly, the Sinn Fein Assembly member for North Belfast, himself a former prisoner, stressed the importance of integrating them back into the community as quickly as possible.
"Prisoners are an important part of the community," he said. "They are from the community, not from outer space. Irish society - North and South - needs to accept them as equal members." He called for a "complete amnesty for those convicted as a result of the conflict".
"How long are ex-prisoners ex-prisoners?" he asked. "They are defined by their criminal record and cannot play a full part in society unless their slates are wiped clean," he said.
Many ex-prisoners had to go into voluntary work as it was impossible for them to find paid employment, Mr Kelly claimed. He also criticised the lack of financial resources for prisoner self-help programmes and promised to press the North's economy minister, Mr Adam Ingram, on the issue of funding.
Coiste na nIarchimi estimates that up to 15,000 republican prisoners have been released throughout Ireland, North and South, during the past 30 years. Mr Mike Ritchie, the group's project manager, said it was important to "help channel the energy and commitment of all these prisoners into the new political situation.
"They are ready to assist in building the type of society which the peace process demands."