The last remaining 22 Provisional IRA prisoners in the Republic have been transferred from Portlaoise Prison to the lower-security institution at Castlerea, Co Roscommon.
It is understood the four men sentenced earlier this year for the killing of Det Garda Jerry McCabe were among those transferred yesterday. The other 18 are expected to be granted temporary parole for Christmas next week.
It is understood they will be released early next year under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. However, those convicted of Det Garda McCabe's killing will be granted neither temporary parole nor early release.
Twenty-one anti-agreement republican prisoners remain in Portlaoise. The inmates yesterday said they had all been refused temporary parole for Christmas, even those serving shorter sentences than Provisional IRA prisoners.
They claimed it was an attempt to "punish" them for their political beliefs. They also alleged the authorities were trying to force them to share facilities with non-paramilitary prisoners.
They have refused to share the facilities and are threatening to stage protests if the decision is implemented.
The Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association said the "officer commanding" the prisoners in the jail, Pascal Burke, had been told that about 40 non-paramilitary prisoners were being moved from Mountjoy Prison to Portlaoise.