Ahern to investigate Dempsey briefing documents

The Taoiseach has said he will investigate reports claiming the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, used public resources to compile briefing documents for Fianna Fáil election candidates.

Mr Ahern said in Killarney this morning that it was "normal practice" for Fianna Fáil to issue briefing packs to election candidates.

However, he said if it were found that a specific Government department was issuing these documents, "that would not be the usual position," he said. "Obviously, this will have to be examined."

The Standards in Public Office Commission confirmed last night it would be investigating the incident.

Mr Dempsey admitted today he had ordered officials from his press office to produce an information pack on education spending for use by four or five hundred Fianna Fáil candidates in local elections in North Leinster, where he is director of elections for the party.

"This information was not compiled exclusively for Fianna Fáil candidates," he insisted. "It's publicly available information. If anyone wants it, they're welcome to it."

He had "no idea" how much it cost, but insisted "it wouldn't have cost a huge amount" as all the information was freely available.

He said he didn't see anything wrong with compiling the documents for his party, and said if the Standards in Public Office Commission deemed the practice to be "not a thing to be doing", then he would cease.

According to the Government Code of Conduct for Office Holders, State resources are not permitted to be used for promoting specific political parties. Officials are expected to ensure public value for money and "to avoid any abuse of the privileges which are, undoubtedly, attached to office."

"Anyone who knows me knows I would not dream of deliberately abusing my powers or of abusing taxpayers' money," Mr Dempsey said.

However, Fine Gael's Ms Olwyn Enright claimed Mr Dempsey was guilty of exactly that. "In  other  jurisdictions, Minister Dempsey's most recent abuse of his position and  misappropriation  of  funds would be a resigning matter," she said. "At the very least, Fianna  Fáil  must repay the taxpayers' money that has spent on election material for  their  candidates."

The Labour Party's Mr Eamon Gilmore described the compilation of the documents as "blatant electioneering". Although he said he didn't want Mr Dempsey to resign over the issue, he insisted it was time for "Fianna Fáil to stop using public funds for their own political ends".

Labour's education spokeswoman, Ms Jan O'Sullivan, accused Mr Dempsey of refusing to accept the seriousness of his actions. Teachers, parents and pupils all over the country who are waiting, in some cases years, for Minister Dempsey to provide funding for urgently needed rebuilding or refurbishment  work  will  be  understandably  angry that Departmental staff and resources could be found to assist Fianna Fáil candidates," she said.

The Green Party education spokesman, Mr Paul Gogarty, said the affair represented a "new low" in politics. He said neither Mr Dempsey's department nor any Government department should not be involved in "providing tailored material for use in election campaigns". He said Mr Dempsey's position is "clearly precarious at this stage".

The Standards in Public Offices Commission last investigated a Fianna Fáil politician in 2001 over alleged breaches of the Ethics in Public Office Act.

The investigation concerned Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Mr Ned O'Keeffe's non-disclosure of his family farm's licence to feed meat-and-bonemeal to pigs. Mr O'Keeffe resigned.