GARDA authorities informed the British police in August 1995 that the triple killer Alan Patrick Reeve was living in Ireland, the Dail was told.
Reeve, who was living in Cork, and whose extradition from Ireland to England is being sought, was refused bail by the High Court on Monday.
Last night, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Bernard Allen, for the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, pointed out that pending receipt of warrants for the purpose of the person's extradition to Britain, the Garda had no basis on which to proceed against him.
"Two warrants in respect of the person concerned were received by the Garda from the Thames Valley police force on February 20th, 1997."
Mr Allen was replying on the adjournment to the Fianna Fail spokesman on justice, Mr John O'Donoghue.