FORMER government press secretary Sean Duignan is to turn to the Six-One news on RTE1.
Mr Duignan, a former political correspondent with RTE, last presented the main evening news in 1991.
He was appointed government press secretary by Mr Albert Reynolds when he was appointed Taoiseach, and remained until hat government fell.
He then returned to RTE, where he did "bits and pieces", according to an RTE executive.
He was to go to the Week Jr Politics last October, when his book about his time in government service was published.
Following a two page spread on the programme in the RTE Guide, he was replaced days before the Week In Politics was due to start.
It was an indication of RTE's sensitivity about using a former political appointee on a high profile news programme.
Mr Duignan, with RTE for nearly 30 years and recently lunchtime news presenter on television, started his career with the Connacht Tribune in Galway.
He then joined Independent Newspapers in Dublin. He has also presented a ceili music programme.
Eamon Lawlor, who has presented Six-One since Mr Duignan went to work in government, is to present Prime Time, replacing Michael Macmillan.
Mr Macmillan was told he would have to be available more often in 1997 since it would be an election year.
He resigned because of commitments with his own production company in Belfast.
What to do with staff who have worked in politics is a problematic question for RTE because of its obligations to impartiality and objectivity under the Broadcasting Act.
After Christmas, it will have to find a place for Michael Ronayne, a staff reporter who took leave of absence to work for Fianna Fail.
He recently resigned from Fianna Fail and is working in the Third World before returning to RTE.
Shane Kenny, the Government press secretary, also has a job waiting for him in the news area of RTE, whenever his time in government service ends.