The decision to assign an assistant principal officer from the Department of the Taoiseach to liase with the four Independent deputies supporting the Government was sharply criticised by the opposition.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said that the officer would also assist the Chief Whip in his dealings with all Independent deputies in the Dail, as well as fulfilling other duties in the Taoiseach's office.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, asked if the Taoiseach considered whether the appointment involved "an inappropriate politicisation" of the civil service.
Denying that this was the case, Mr Ahern said that the liaison role was not much different from the work of any civil servant assisting members of the House.
"When this civil servant is asked about matters, all he can do is check the position, liase with and report back to the member. . . . I do not consider that politicisation of a civil servant."
Mr Bruton asked if the Secretary General of the Department had agreed to the new role.
"Does the Taoiseach agree that keeping the Government in office, and winning Dail divisions, is probably the most political task any person could be asked to perform, and that it is naive to suggest, as the Taoiseach has, that this is not politicising a civil servant?" he went on.
Mr Ahern replied: "During my 21 years in this House, I have been a government whip and I saw civil servants, attached to the whip's office, keep members on track. I saw them ring hotels, bars and taxis to find members for votes. That is politicising an issue."
Asked by the Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, to outline what liasing with the four Independents involved, the Taoiseach said: "The word liaison means what the deputy would understand it to mean. This person keeps in contact with the members."
Mr Bruton asked: "Is he on a performance bonus?"
Mr Ahern replied: "No."
See also page 9