Ireland's ambassador to Pakistan preferred a different nominee for honorary consul than the one eventually chosen by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and supported by Mr John Ellis (FF, Sligo-Leitrim) and others.

The Minister, Mr Andrews, confirmed yesterday that Mr Ellis, chairman of the Oireachtas Agriculture and Marine Committee, made representations on behalf of the Government's eventual nominee, Mr Ahsan.

He said that of the final two candidates, Ireland's ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Thomas Lyons - who lives in Tehran - preferred the other nominee, Mr Gilani, rather than the Minister's choice, Mr Ahsan.

Mr Andrews insisted, however, that at all times, "I have been open, transparent and accountable as far as this appointment is concerned". He also denied that his Department leaked the name of the Tanaiste's programme manager as the person who supported the runner-up for the appointment. The first he saw of it was in the print media, he told Fine Gael's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell.

He denied Mr Mitchell's claim that he was embarrassing his Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell.

Mr Mitchell called on the Minister to confirm that one of the reasons for the "removal of the previous Irish consul" was that he made complaints about the Indus Bank and what he considered its unethical business behaviour. The consul took legal action, which was settled.

Pointing to the apparent connection between Mr Ellis and the bank, Mr Mitchell also asked: "Did the Minister's Department investigate that connection when that deputy came to nominate a successor, who was conveniently accepted by the Minister?"

Mr Andrews said that the previous consul resigned and he believed it was part of the settlement that the incumbent resign. The position has been vacant since May 1998, and the acceptance of the Government's nominee, Mr Ahsan, has yet to be confirmed by the Pakistani authorities. Ireland does not have a resident ambassador in Pakistan.

Mr Andrews told Labour's spokesman, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, that two of the 14 applicants for the position were considered suitable by both Ireland's ambassador to Pakistan and by the Department.

"I decided on the one who, in my view, was the better and asked the ambassador to Pakistan to seek the approval of the Pakistani authorities for his appointment," the Minister stated. "It is not my intention to send the matter to the Foreign Affairs committee. It is my decision, I stick by it and I take the consequence of it."

Mr Mitchell asked if the Minister was saying "it is coincidental that the person was appointed after lobbying from deputy Ellis and that was not relevant? Will the Minister also say why his Department gratuitously leaked the name of the Tanaiste's programme manager as the person supporting the other candidate because that is exactly what happened?"

Mr Andrews said it was normal in appointments of this kind "for representations from interested persons in Pakistan and in Ireland, supporting one or other of those under consideration".

He quoted the ambassador's comments about Mr Ahsan, the final choice, and Mr Gilani. He said that Mr Ahsan "is socially comfortable and comes across as someone who is used to dealing with a variety of people and has wide experience. The second individual, Mr Gilani, confirmed the impression that he had given on the first occasion I met him of being socially at ease, open and direct, and a solid and reliable person."

Mr Andrews said that, based on that and other information, he made his choice.