The former Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West, Mr Liam Lawlor, who spoke yesterday in detail about his latest stay in prison, said he lost half a stone working out in the gym and managed to catch up with his reading.
Mr Lawlor praised the prison staff at Mountjoy as "very professional people" and said: "They facilitated the ongoing process of paperwork with office facilities, which was essential to try and make sure I used the time wisely. I got about half a stone off working in the gym. I'm very fit. I used the time very wisely."
He said he did not have a lot of contact with the other prisoners. "Time drags a bit at certain stages but you have to be of a disposition to do your national service.
"I read quite a lot and I wrote quite a bit, mainly formal stuff that I was dealing with. A tremendous number of people provided me with reading material, most of which I didn't even get to touch."
Speaking to Joe Duffy on the RTÉ radio programme Liveline, he said he would make a decision on his political future this weekend.
Mr Lawlor, whose grandson is to be christened in Lucan today, said he would be spending the weekend with his family and would make an "objective decision" then.
Asked if the organisation could be expected to canvass for Liam Lawlor or Fianna Fáil, he replied: "No, they would canvass for Liam Lawlor because they see themselves as virtually canvassing for Liam Lawlor/ Fianna Fáil. Sure when you are 30 to 40 years within the organisation, that doesn't end if you just have some sort of formality situation."
