Opposition parties have demanded assurances that Ministers will not attempt to promote themselves through exchequer-funded public information campaigns in the general election.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern rejected claims that Ministers misused taxpayers' money to promote themselves in campaigns before the last general election.
He added that five cases where a Minister decided to take on staff through "fast-tracking" were considered under the Quigley report guidelines which deal with PR appointments and contracts.
Two involved the appointment of arts advisers to the Minister for Arts. "I approved both those appointments following appropriate prior consideration by the Government secretariat."
Three other appointments, for an IT consultant in the Department of Transport and a PR consultant for the departments of Transport and of Arts, "were not within the guidelines but followed the correct criteria".
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claimed "last year the Minister of State for Children wrote to everybody about the early childcare supplement. I understand the cost of sending out that letter was €250,000 despite the fact that the scheme was well publicised."
There "appears to be a massive cost involved in the public relations end of Ministers and departments setting out their stall to the people".
Green party leader Trevor Sargent said there should be a cut-off point before an election during which PR contracts would not be signed "given the likelihood that they would take into account political dimensions".
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the Minister of State for Children was not the only one to misuse "taxpayers' money to blatantly convey a political message".
He said several Ministers promoted themselves and their party under the guise of imparting information to the public coming up to the last general election.
However, Mr Ahern said "I do not accept that Ministers breached the public procurement guidelines and the various rules in the handbook prior to the last general election".
There were "a few cases outside of elections times that were brought to the attention of the Standards in Public Office Commission which were looked at".
A Minister "cannot simply decide to produce a publicity leaflet without being satisfied that it comes within the procurement arrangements and guidelines".
