The South Kerry Independent TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, made representations on behalf of a Killarney woman wishing to accommodate asylum-seekers.
In a letter dated March 22nd, 2000, received by the Department of Justice on April 12th, Mr Healy-Rae said he was writing on behalf of a Killarney woman "who has applied for the Asylum Seekers Project.
"I would be very grateful if you could arrange the inspection at your very earliest convenience, " Mr Healy-Rae wrote. He then added: "She is anxious to be offered a contract for two to three years."
The letter was addressed to an official at the Department of Foreign Affairs and forwarded to the Directorate for Asylum Support Services.
It came to light following a freedom of information request by Radio Kerry. On May 3rd on Radio Kerry's live morning show, Mr Healy-Rae flatly denied having made representation on behalf of anyone wishing to accommodate asylum-seekers.
Only days before Mr Healy-Rae warned of "civil rumpus" on the asylum-seeker issue. The non-genuine ones should be sent home immediately, he said.
"I'm 100 per cent behind O'Donoghue to give them the road out of the country. The people who aren't here at all are the ones in right trouble. They can't get the big money to get in here. Where did the people who got here get the big money?"
But Mr Healy-Rae last night defended his letter. As far as he could remember, he made the request on behalf of a couple wishing to purchase a large guesthouse in Killarney.
"It was only a query. They wanted a secure income for one or two years. It would have made the difference between being able to buy the house or not buying the house," he said. "That's as far as I can remember.
"The only refugees in Killarney at that point in time were Kosovars. Now it's a different story when the hotel in the top of High Street where I spent my life in and out of meetings [the Park Place Hotel in Killarney] is given over to asylum-seekers. And two buses of asylum-seekers came in without anybody knowing."
Last night Mr Healy-Rae said he was "90 per cent certain" the couple no longer wished to buy the guesthouse and their plans to accommodate asylum-seekers never materialised. He said he would have to check his files as he could not remember the exact details.