Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I was doing my work and I had to keep moving. Whatever information I received, it would not be coming from the communications unit. I have to get on with my job, rather than worrying about these things.

Probably 99% of the work done in the unit is released to press officers in Departments, who are civil servants. They are not political animals. They deal with information relating to the Departments as that is their job. They are not involved in the political process. If Deputy Rabbitte was to suggest that we close departmental press offices and also withhold funding from political party press offices during the election, then an argument could be made. However, that is more nonsense. This unit does not play any political role. Any general election candidate, whether a Minister or otherwise, would not use this information.

We are not on the eve of a general election, so Deputy Rabbitte should not get excited about that. Taking into account what he said last weekend and what the Minister, Deputy McDowell, said this weekend, I will obviously have to go elsewhere to cost those issues. However, I would not get it from the communications unit.

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