Junior Minister Tony Killeen is coming in for further criticism today following revelations that he sought the early release of a convicted murderer in recent years.
The revelation will cause further embarrassment for the Clare TD following the news last week that he wrote two letters to the Minister for Justice seeking the release of a child rapist from his constituency.
It has now emerged that he also sought the release of an unnamed murderer in both 2003 and 2005.
Mr Killeen is insisting that the representations were made by staff in his constituency office without his knowledge and he would not have approved them if he was aware of the situation.
He has already apologised to the victims of convicted child rapist Joseph Nugent, who was at the centre of last week's controversy.