A Fine Gael Senator and criminal barrister says he hopes the Department of Justice will make an extradition request to the United Arab Emirates for Daniel Kinahan, his father Christy and brother Christopher.
It comes after the Gulf state froze the assets of the Kinahans, in response to a similar move by the United States.
The US Department of the Treasury put family members and associates on an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list.
Senator Barry Ward told Newstalk Breakfast while Ireland does not have an extradition agreement with the UAE, this can still be done.
"An extradition treaty is really only a set of agreed protocols between two countries for extradition procedures.
"It doesn't debar anybody from being extradited - but the lack of one makes it more difficult.
"That said, we know that the United Arab Emirates are serious about the Kinahan cartel: they've taken steps against them and frozen their assets in Dubai and elsewhere.
"So it's something that is possible - and I hope and presume the Department of Justice here will make a request to the UAE for that extradition to take place."
He adds: "I don't have anymore information than anyone else, but if that letter hasn't been written already I would expect it to be written soon".
'Pressure for the Emirates'
Senator Ward says the US intervention has likely put extra pressure on the Gulf nation.
"The fact that the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States has stepped up and made it very clear that the Kinahan cartel is a target for them has put it front and centre internationally.
"The fact that they've put sanctions on businesses connected with the Kinahans has also created pressure for the Emirates, because a lot of those businesses are operating out of Dubai".
And he believes the Kinahans would have difficulty trying to flee elsewhere.
"I think it would actually be more difficult than you might think for them to flee Dubai or the United Arab Emirates.
"Their assets are now frozen.
"So while I'm quite sure they have assets that are beyond the reach of the UAE authorities, it is much more difficult for them to move now than it would have been a month ago, for example".
