Campaigners for the release of the three Irishmen detained in Colombia are today due to meet senior government and legal officials to see if the three could be flown back to Dublin.
Sinn Féin Assembly members Ms Caitriona Ruane and Mr Gerry Kelly had arranged talks with Colombia's Vice Attorney General and officials for the country's Vice President, Mr Francisco Santos.
The Colombian government last night signalled it had no objection to Mr James Monaghan, Mr Martin McCauley and Mr Niall Connolly returning to Ireland on condition that they would fly back to Bogota for an appeal on their case.
The three men were acquitted in April of training Marxist FARC rebels but convicted of travelling to the country on false passports.
Colombian prosecutors are appealing the decision not to convict them for training rebels.
Last month the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, urged the Colombian President, Mr Alvaro Uribe, at a summit of EU and South American leaders in Mexico, to speed up the legal process. He also suggested the prisoners could return to Ireland to await the appeal.