The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs sent personal messages to the Colombian president and foreign minister about the release of the "Colombia Three", the Dáil was told.
Mr Cowen said the messages reiterated "the desirability of facilitating the men's early departure from Colombia as the best way of ensuring their safety".
He said the judge had ruled against the petition of the defence and, consequently, the men were required to remain in Colombia for the duration of their appeal.
"I have asked the Colombian authorities to expedite the hearing of the appeal so that this case can be concluded as quickly as possible."
Replying to Mr Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central), Mr Cowen said he could assure the House that the Department of Foreign Affairs would continue to do its utmost to ensure the safety and well-being of the three men.
Mr Cowen said that when the judge's decision in the case was announced on April 26th, officials from the Irish Embassy in Mexico, which is also accredited to Colombia, had been in close contact with the Colombian authorities, as well as the Dutch ambassador to Bogota and the Irish honorary consul in Bogota, and they had reported back to him on a regular basis.
He added that the judgment permitted the men to be released from prison under "conditional freedom", on payment of a bond which was refundable at the end of their sentence.
His Department had indicated that it would advance the €17,000 involved on the basis of a firm undertaking that it be repaid.
The current position was that the attorney general of Colombia had lodged an appeal against the judgment in the case, he added.
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