Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

When that issue came up, a fair point was made about it and I acknowledged that at the time. It was the subject of a complaint to the commission which examined the complaint but did not consider there was any basis on which to pursue the matter. However, arising from consideration of the matter and following communication with the commission, I issued guidelines to Ministers on the issue. I do not know if those guidelines are in the public domain but I have no problem putting them there.

The point was that one can give information but should not build it into an advertising campaign on oneself. It should be about the issue. The commission had no difficulty with a Minister issuing the information but said it should not involve photographs or a public relations campaign around that Minister. It should be information that is issued. That was the commission's suggestion and I instructed all Ministers and Ministers of State to follow those guidelines in future.

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