MR EAMON O CUIV has called on the British government to grant immediate compassionate parole to an IRA prisoner to attend his mother's funeral in Co Clare.
The prisoner, Harry Duggan, has served 21 years of a life sentence. His mother, Bridget, died on Monday night.
Mr O Cuiv, the Fianna Fail spokesman on prisoners' affairs, said such a humanitarian gesture on the part of the British would send an important signal to republicans and help build the confidence required on all sides if the peace process's to be rescued.
"Senator Mitchell in his report specifically mentioned the plight of politically motivated prisoners in the context of confidence building measures that are required", he said.