The Taoiseach last night publicly apologised to three journalists whose telephones were tapped in an attempt to stem leaks from cabinet in the 1980s.
Mr Ahern apologised on behalf of the State and Fianna Fβil to Bruce Arnold, Geraldine Kennedy and Vincent Browne, who all took legal cases against the State.
Mr Ahern said the tapping of their phones, under Fianna Fβil rule in 1982, were an "inappropriate invasion of their privacy and interference by the State with their role as journalists".
"I say this, notwithstanding the fact that many of those in charge of security may, according to their own lights at the time, have felt that they were carrying out their duty in accordance with law.
"Cabinet leaks are not unknown, even today. Where they come from within, exhortation and/or admonition of colleagues, while not always completely effective, is the best method of keeping them to a minimum." He said he hoped his remarks would put the matter finally to rest.
Mr Ahern made his apology at a gathering to mark the publication of a new biography of former taoiseach, the late Mr Jack Lynch, written by Mr Arnold, the chief political columnist with the Irish Independent.