The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday the Government was not embarrassed by the controversy which followed the President, Mrs McAleese, receiving Communion in a Church of Ireland cathedral.
Speaking on RTE radio, Mr Ahern said he was a bit bemused that it had opened up a whole debate about canon law and about Communion. However, he was not in any way embarrassed.
"In actual fact it was nice to see President McAleese saying that she was going to build bridges as she moves from one denominational church to another. It's nice to see that she's fully participating in all of these matters.
"Isn't it ironic I'm out there, with many more people, trying to stop people from different religions shooting each other and others are getting wound up about how they participate in their church services?"
On the resignation of Mr Ray Burke as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern said it was a "major knock". Mr Burke was a fine colleague and fine minister. It was a setback but now the Government was glad at the way things were going. Favourable opinion polls were a reflection of the work of his colleagues in Government.
Asked if he had met Mr Burke since he announced his retirement, Mr Ahern said he had not met him but had talked to him on the phone a number of times and looked forward to meeting him many times this year.
On the two pending by-elections, he was asked when the writs would be moved. He said nothing had been decided. They would probably wait for better weather.
The Taoiseach was asked if he was worried that the Moriarty tribunal would bring further revelations about the monetary position of his former leader, Mr Charles Haughey.
"Personally, of course, I do not want to see any more fall on the head of Charlie Haughey. He's a good man who served the country well and I think he's taken a heck of a lot of knocks and he is getting older."
From the point of view of politics and the political position, Mr Ahern said they had to make sure that whatever was there came out. He hoped that in 1998 they would continue to bring forward legislative change to make these things happen, such as the issue of political funding for parties.
On EMU, he said 1998 would be the year in which Ireland would join up as a member of EMU and there would be a meeting of Finance Ministers on the May holiday weekend.
Turning to the £20 million allocation to the GAA for Croke Park in the Budget, Mr Ahern said he did not regret that. He would like to see the stadium used more for other sports.
He agreed with the President that a bridge should be built between the GAA and the people it did not allow to join, like the Northern Ireland security forces.