Proposals for an official protocol to stop TDs and Senators making representations on early or temporary releases for prisoners is not expected to go ahead, following strong opposition by politicians across most parties.
The issue was discussed by political party whips last week at their weekly meeting but it was decided against taking any initiative on the matter.
The issue may also be discussed by the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at its first meeting of the year in Leinster House this evening. However, there is no motion before the meeting to be discussed, and it is unlikely any formal protocol will arise out of the meeting.
The concept of a protocol emerged last week in the wake of the controversy over representations made by Minister of State for Enterprise Tony Killeen, in relation to a number of prisoners, including Chris Cooney, who murdered Robert Walsh in 1991 at a bar in Ennis, Co Clare. The mother of Mr Walsh, Nora Walsh, was highly critical of the representation, and the fact there had been no contact with her and her family.
She also called for the removal of political involvement in the issue of temporary and early release. Mr Killeen travelled to Bantry, Co Cork, to meet Ms Walsh, along with local TD Denis O'Donovan, to personally apologise for the representations.
Following the meeting, Mr O'Donovan said he and Mr Killeen agreed to investigate the possibility of new procedures to prevent similar representations being made in the future.
This included the possibility of a cross-party protocol to end such representations.
However, the idea has been greeted with hostility by TDs across all parties as being impractical and unworkable, amid claims it would prevent TDs from making legitimate inquiries on behalf of prisoners.
Yesterday Labour Party chief whip Emmet Stagg confirmed the issue had been raised at last week's whips' meeting in Leinster House, and that there was a general discussion, with most against any cross-party initiative.
Mr Stagg said he was totally opposed to any limit being placed on the types of representations a TD can make in relation to prisoner issues.
"I reserve my right as an elected representative to make any representations as I see appropriate and fit in my duty as a TD," he said. "I feel very strongly about it."
He said TDs had a core role to represent people on the issues that concern them, and he said he made representations in relation to prisoners "on a regular basis", pointing out that prisoners had rights too, and were often held in poor conditions where they were at risk.
It had been expected that a formal motion would be put to the Fianna Fáil meeting for debate but it is understood that this will not happen. Instead, the issue may be raised for a general discussion.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has already indicated he would prefer to see TDs ensuring they operate in a responsible manner in relation to representations, rather than introduce any rules relating to them.
A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman said the issue was viewed as one of "individual responsibility" and Mr Ahern had outlined the need for public representatives to act in a responsible manner in relation to prisoner representations.