The Home Office in London last night confirmed the transfer of two more republican prisoners - one to the North and one to the Republic - amid signs of a quickening pace to "confidence-building" steps on the prisoners issue. The move comes after the early releases announced by the Irish Government on Wednesday and demands from the Progressive Unionist Party for similar concessions to loyalist prisoners.
It also comes as another British government "confidence-building measure" - the Public Processions (Northern Ireland) Bill - was being denounced in the Commons by the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, as "the most serious and substantial assault on the civil rights of the people of Northern Ireland this century".
In accordance with usual practice, the prisoner transfers, under the "repatriation" legislation, were not confirmed until after they had been effected. It is understood Vincent Donnelly was transferred from Full Sutton prison to the Republic last Wednesday, and Patrick Martin was transferred yesterday to Maghaberry in the North.
There were signs last night that further transfers before Christmas were not ruled out.
At the end of last month, 20 prisoners were seeking repatriation: 19 to the Republic and one to the North. Five of these have now been effected, and it is understood of another 10, three are still under consideration by the authorities in Dublin and seven have been referred back to London.
Of the remaining five, one application is understood to have been suspended and the remaining four are awaiting tariffs to be set by the British Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw. It is understood the notification of those tariffs is expected shortly.
The Irish Government is anxious that transfers should continue apace, although it is accepted that the more fundamental question - the early release of prisoners in the North - will be considered only in the context of an overall political settlement.