Sinn Fein's senior strategist and negotiator, Mr Martin Ferris, said yesterday that the release of those convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda Jerry McCabe and of all qualifying political prisoners was "imperative" and should take place soon. Those under extradition warrants also needed to have their situations resolved, Mr Ferris said, and he was hopeful the outstanding difficulties with regard to extradition would be cleared up in the next few weeks.
"The political acceptance" to deal with the extradition issue was there.
Mr Ferris, a councillor on both Kerry County Council and Tralee UDC, and a Sinn Fein candidate in north Kerry in the next general election, said the terms of the Good Friday agreement were legally binding.
However, in the case of those convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe, the Government had not lived up fully to the prisoner part of the agreement "because of political difficulties", he said.
He made his remarks following a High Court decision on Tuesday not to pursue an extradition order against Angelo Fusco and Paul Magee.
He said the arrest of Fusco earlier this year "never added up" and eroded confidence in the Good Friday agreement at a sensitive time in the process.
Mr Ferris called for the early release of those convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe, saying: "Clearly they are within the Good Friday agreement. There is nothing written into the agreement that bars their release."
The four were part of the IRA organisation, they were IRA prisoners and qualified for release.
Mr Ferris has been in recent contact with the men in Castlerea Prison.
The four have held discussions with their legal team and may decide to challenge their detention in the courts, he said.
They strongly and absolutely supported the terms of the agreement and the peace process.
"We have said consistently all qualifying prisoners come within the terms of the Good Friday agreement. I would hope that this would be resolved. It may have to be resolved legally," Mr Ferris said.
He was speaking on Radio Kerry and again afterwards.