A list of TDs and Senators who have used their offices to lobby on behalf of prisoners has been published.
Representations include those made on behalf of inmates convicted of murder, possession of drugs and drink driving.
The names of the politicians involved were obtained by the Irish Independent under the Freedom of Information Act.
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, current Ministers Brian Lenihan, Dermot Ahern, Willie O'Dea and Éamon Ó Cuív and Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue were among the 24 Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators who lobbied on behalf of prisoners.
The most representations made to the Department of Justice came from Fianna Fáil Kerry North TD Tom McEllistrim who lobbied on behalf of six individuals between 2006 and early 2007.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was one of six of his party's TDs who contacted the Department of Justice.
Three Labour TDs and one Senator lobbied on behalf of prisoners, as did Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin and former PD TD Tim O'Malley.
The full list released to the Irish Independent is as follows (number of representations in brackets):
Fianna Fáil
Tom McEllistrim (6)
Noel Treacy (3)
Bertie Ahern (3)
Willie O'Dea (2)
John O'Donoghue (2)
Charlie O'Connor (2)
Rory O'Hanlon (2)
Frank Fahey (1)
Sen Margaret Cox (1)
Éamon Ó Cuív (1)
Ollie Wilkinson (1)
Niall Blaney (1)
Noel O'Flynn (1)
Ivor Callely (1)
Seamus Kirk/Dermot Ahern (1)
Jimmy Devins (1)
Sean Ardagh (1)
Brian Lenihan (1)
John McGuinness (1)
Liam Aylward (1)
Dick Roche (1)
MJ Nolan (1)
Sen Camillus Glynn (1)
Fine Gael
Shane McEntee (2)
Michael Ring (2)
Enda Kenny (1)
Paul Connaughton (1)
Dinny McGinley (1)
Michael Noonan (1)
Labour
Emmet Stagg (3)
Pat Rabbitte (1)
Mary Upton (1)
Sen Kathleen O'Meara (1)
Others
Seamus Healy (Ind) (1)
Tim O'Malley (PD) (1)
Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin (SF) (1)
