Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I met the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, on Monday morning and I discussed the two central issues which were the staff issues with which he clearly has had a difficulty in his Department. He gave me a written statement of his position on that matter. I discussed the issue of the inducement to a staff member to which he gave me an explanation. I think I made it clear on Monday that giving an inducement to a staff member, regardless of how one does it, in that kind of a case is not a good practice.

In regard to the second issue, I heard last night that there was some issue about work being done on his home by a contractor. When I returned home last night I tried to contact the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, late last night-early this morning and again very early this morning because I was in work at approximately 6.30 a.m. We started a Cabinet meeting at 7.30 a.m. so I have not been in a position to speak with him. The Chief Whip and one of my advisers have spoken to him this morning. In the interests of fairness I want to speak with him. Other than having been handed a short note from a contractor I do not know the details of the case. The Deputy will appreciate that I will not make a judgment on a report I did not hear. I understand Mr. Charlie Bird has made a detailed report on the matter and I am going to listen to it. I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, later in the day.

The issues which the Deputy referred to on the public record regarding probity and political judgment are all matters I stand over.

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