The Northern Ireland Office has said it cannot comment on reports that it has been warned against giving amnesty to IRA members wanted for questioning in the North.
According to Belfast's Sunday Life, the British Attorney General has written to the NIO asking under what legislation fugitives might be offered an amnesty if they returned.
The paper said the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, had written to the Northern Secretary seeking clarification about whether as many as 60 named people would be arrested on sight.
A spokesman for Mr Adams could not confirm whether he had written to Dr John Reid but the NIO denied there was any amnesty for individuals who absconded after being sentenced or before trial.
It said 14 individuals connected with the IRA had returned to the North and been released on licence by the sentence review commissioners while a further five were granted the royal prerogative.