The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, has said the Government would only consider the release of the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe if there were a complete end to paramilitarism.
Speaking last night, Ms Harney said that situation had not yet arisen and the Government would not negotiate on the matter.
Det Garda McCabe was shot dead in an attempted robbery in Adare, Co Limerick, in June 1996 while his colleague, Ben O'Sullivan, was wounded.
Four men are serving sentences in Castlerea Prison for Mr McCabe's manslaughter.
The Government has always insisted that they do not fall under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, which paved the way for the release of many paramilitaries.
Negotiations on power-sharing deal
This week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern gave the first indication that the men could be freed as part of the negotiations to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland and wind up the IRA.
His comments angered Mr McCabe's widow, Anne, who called the men common criminals and said she had not been consulted.
Last night, Ms Harney appeared to back the Taoiseach's view. She reiterated that the men did not come under the Good Friday Agreement but said that in the context of an end to paramilitarism in all its aspects, the Government might take a different view.
