Having taken some time out in recent months, Gerry Howlin, a former acting government press secretary and special adviser to Bertie Ahern, has joined the public affairs arm of Dublin-based PR agency MRPA Kinman.

Howlin spent a decade in Bertie's circle, stretching back to when Fianna Fáil was in opposition. He also held the fort last year as government press secretary for a number of months until Eoghan O'Neachtáin's appointment after the general election.

Howlin's decision to join MRPA is interesting given the agency's strong links to the Progressive Democrats. MRPA founders Ray Gordon and Stephen O'Byrnes have been key advisers to the PDs in recent times.

O'Byrnes, who heads MRPA's public affairs activities, once stood for election to the European Parliament on a PD ticket.

With the PDs looking like a spent force, MRPA has obviously decided that it would be helpful to have somebody on board who has the ear of Fianna Fáil.