The case of Seamus Culleton, who is currently detained in Texas, shows that Ireland has a problem with representation in Washington, according to Former Irish government Special Envoy to the United States and former TD John Deasy.
Mr Culleton was detained by immigration officials in the US last year.
Originally from Glenmore in Co Kilkenny, Mr Culleton was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last September and taken to a detention centre in Texas, where he remains.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Mr Deasy said: "Maybe this case is a really good example of the lack of contacts that we have in Washington and in America generally.
"Politics doesn't change, it's about contacts, relationships and people knowing who is in power and turning that lever. Unfortunately, we do not have that kind of influence and access we used to have."
He said that there is a need for professional political operatives with in-depth contacts with Republicans and Ireland does not have that in Washington to make things happen when it is needed.
Mr Deasy said that there are questions to ask about what basic representation has or has not been taking place on Mr Culleton's behalf.
He said locking up any Irish citizen for five months in this manner cannot be tolerated in any circumstance.
He said that Mr Culleton’s release should not wait until a meeting between Taoiseach Micheál Martin and US President Donald Trump.
"I don’t think I’ve come across a case as egregious as this, that someone would be held in a detention centre for five months. That’s the difference.
"Any Irish citizen should not be left in this kind of a situation for this length of time," he said.
