Minister of State for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen has said he intends to stop making representations on behalf of prisoners or their families following the controversy over his seeking the early release of a convicted murderer and a convicted child rapist.
Speaking to The Irish Timeslast night, Mr Killeen said he was also attempting to contact the victims and families in a further 10 cases where he has made representations or inquiries about prisoners.
His comments follow stinging criticisms by the mother of a murder victim yesterday, who rejected Mr Killeen's excuse that he had not seen or signed the representation seeking the early release of Chris Cooney, who was jailed in 1992 for the murder of Rob Lynch in the Banner Arms pub in Ennis in February 1991.
Mr Lynch's mother, Nora, said: "If you have an office, and it's your office, what comes out of that office is your responsibility, and you should be held accountable for everything that comes out of that office, signed or unsigned."
Describing her dead son as "a beautiful young fella", she said he had attempted to intervene in the assault of a woman by the man who went on to kill him with a Stanley knife.
She said that while she had "no problem" with an early release for Cooney if he was ready, she was "absolutely furious" about the manner in which Mr Killeen went about making the representation.
"Why don't they come first to the victims of these murderers?" she told RTÉ news.
"The victims have to be taken into consideration. I'm not the only one. There are others, but I have to make a stand because if by me doing this, no mother has to put up with this crap."
Yesterday Mr Killeen said he did not want to add to Ms Lynch's grief by commenting on the particular case.
However, he said he had identified 10 other cases where he had made representations on behalf of prisoners, and he was now attempting to contact the victims or their relatives. He again said that he took full responsibility for the letters.
"There are 10 cases, with between 15 and 19 letters in total," he said, adding that all of the letters had been made on "humanitarian or rehabilitation grounds", such as seeking a transfer or day-release on safety, health or compassionate grounds.
He added that he was reviewing his office policy of making such representations.
"I've pretty much decided that we don't deal with any prisoner cases in the future, despite the fact that it is my job to make representations on behalf of families."
The controversy over Mr Killeen has continued for the last 10 days since it was revealed that Mr Killeen's office had also made representations on behalf of convicted child rapist Joseph Nugent.
However Mr Killeen's future as a junior Minister is not believed to be in danger, with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern having accepted Mr Killeen's apology for the controversy earlier this week.
Mr Killeen's office made a further two representations about Cooney seeking temporary release for him in addition to two seeking his early release which were reported in yesterday's paper.
Both letters are signed on the Minister's behalf by his constituency secretary, former Clare deputy mayor Cllr Pat Daly (FF). Both representations were turned down by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Yesterday, Government chief whip Tom Kitt, who has been in contact with Mr Killeen on behalf of the Government, said the Clare TD deeply regretted what had happened, but it was a practice for many TDs in most parties.
"I think it's diminishing but it's part of the clientelist system that we have and it has been there for years. My own personal view is that people should refrain from making these types of representations, and I think a case can be made for looking at this area."