The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party says Ireland will be open to the accusation that it is soft on terrorism if it fails to deal with the three Irishmen found guilty of training FARC rebels in Columbia.
Sir Reg Empey said the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, must have known that the men were likely to turn up in Ireland at some time in the future.
Mr Ahern interrupted his holiday in Kerry today to return to Dublin to discuss the matter with senior officials from his department.
Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister has said he has contacted all MEPs to put pressure on Mr Ahern to return the fugitives to the South American country to serve their 17-year sentences.
In a question in the European Parliament, Mr Allister will ask the EU Council and Commission what steps they have taken to ensure that the Irish Government does not provide sanctuary for international terrorists.
Earlier, Mr Ahern called for calm, clear-headed consideration and debate on the issue of the extradition of the men.
Martin McCauley, Niall Connolly and James Monaghan were sentenced to 17 years in jail in Colombia after an appeal court reversed their earlier acquittal on the charge.
They have returned to Ireland after being on the run for eight months from the Colombian authorities.
Writing in today's Irish Times, Mr Ahern said any communication from the Colombian government on the issue would be considered in accordance with legal obligations.
The Colombian Vice-President, Francisco Santos, reiterated his call to the Irish Government to either extradite or imprison the three Irishmen.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland radio programme, Mr Santos said the least he expected from the Irish Government was for it to insure that the three men served their full jail sentences here.
In response, the Social Welfare Minister, Séamus Brennan, said any action to be taken against the men is a matter for the legal system and not a political one.
