Fianna Fáil Ministers are to be warned by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern not to use their offices for party political work, following embarrassments caused by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey and Minister of State, Mr Frank Fahey.
Under questioning from the Fine Gael leader, Mr Kenny, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that the conduct of both Ministers was wrong "and should not have happened".
Mr Fahey used ministerial office headed notepaper to invite people to attend a party fund-raiser in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, Galway, which will be attended by the Taoiseach this morning.
The unusually strong words from the Taoiseach has raised a question mark over the ability of both Mr Dempsey and Mr Fahey to survive the ministerial reshuffle due in the autumn.
In the Dáil, Mr Ahern said: "The letter sent by the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, concerning a party fundraising event was sent from his constituency office. It is totally inappropriate.
"I made it clear to the Minister of State when I discussed the matter with him that the use of departmental notepaper for such correspondence is not permitted," Mr Ahern declared.
"He believed there was a distinction because it was his constituency office.
However, there is not and the standard is clear. The code of conduct for office holders states in section 2.2.3 that public resources and official facilities should be used only for official purposes.
I will remind my colleagues that they were in breach of the code.
He went on: "I will remind people of the code, particularly in view of the two breaches. We will comply with the code of the Standards in Public Office Commission."
The Minister for Education's offence, which involved the preparation of information manuals by Department of Education officials for local election candidates, is clearly less serious in the Taoiseach's eyes.
"I do not think there is a difficulty about the information and I do not want to see restrictions on the provision of information from anybody. The Opposition also uses Departments in the information process.
"The use of the folder is the issue in the case of the Minister for Education and Science. In the case of party political issues, the rule is clear. One cannot use either constituency offices or Departments for information. I will point that out again. It is easy for people to make an error in these matters. The rules are tight now and we must comply with them. I will remind my colleagues of the rules," said the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach met Mr Fahey at a meeting in Government Buildings yesterday morning, a spokesman for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment confirmed last night.
Last night, a spokesman for the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, who is Mr Fahey's direct superior in Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said she agreed with the Taoiseach's reprimand. "The Taoiseach has dealt with the matter in an appropriate manner," said her spokesman, who accepted that the Tánaiste had not disciplined Mr Fahey for improperly using the Department's letterhead.
