Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has denied claims that the return of the Colombia Three was orchestrated as part of a deal with the IRA to secure decommissioning.
Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley returned to Ireland in the last few days, eight months after they were convicted in their absence of teaching the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) urban terrorism techniques.
They had been missing since last December after an appeal court reversed their original acquittal and sentenced them to 17 years in prison.
Speaking in Co Kerry today, Mr Ahern insisted the men were never discuss during negotiations with Sinn Fein prior to the IRA statement last month that it was to lay down arms.
Any suggestion to the contrary was "false, untrue and unhelpful", the Taoiseach said.
The Democratic Unionists, Fine Gael and the Green Party have all called for an explanation into how the men arrived in Ireland.
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson called on Mr Ahern to immediately hand the men over to the Colombian authorities.
"These three men were intricately involved in the global terrorist network," the East Belfast MP said. "Bertie Ahern would do well to remember the words of President Bush when he said: 'those who harbour terrorists are terrorists'."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded a statement from the Government on the circumstances surrounding the men's return.
Green Party whip Dan Boyle said the surprise re-appearance of the men demanded answers on whether their return had been discussed in advance, whether extradition would be considered and whether any prosecution would follow in Ireland over the use of illegal Irish passports.
Colombia's vice president insisted last night the Government has the "legal and moral obligation" to extradite the men, even though the two countries do not have an extradition treaty.
"A Colombian court issued its verdict that confirmed what we believed from the start: that they were three IRA terrorists, explosives experts, who came to Colombia to train" Marxist rebels, Vice President Francisco Santos said in a statement.
The Department of Justice said today any request for extradition would be considered by the Government, but any extradition proceedings would have to be in accordance with Irish law. Ireland currently has no extradition treaty with Colombia.
The Northern Ireland Office warned last night there would be no hiding place for them north of the Border. "That is a matter for the Irish authorities. If they enter the UK an extradition request will be dealt with without delay," a spokesman said.
The three men were arrested at Bogota's El Dorado Airport in August 2001 as they prepared to board a flight out of the country. However they vigorously denied they were training Farc members, insisting they were visiting Colombia to monitor the country's peace process.