Media:Senior Fianna Fáil figures met the head of Independent Newspapers, Sir Anthony O'Reilly, before the election campaign began, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has confirmed.
Questioned about the matter yesterday, Mr Cowen said "an opportunity" had arisen to hold a meeting with Sir Anthony.
"Any meetings that are private are private. It wasn't about anything other than Fianna Fáil putting its position formally to a proprietor of newspapers to see what way we can get our message across.
"There was no question of corporate interests being discussed, or anything like that. It was simply a discussion about the future, preparations for the election."
Replying to questions from Vincent Browne, Mr Cowen said he had not met the proprietors of any other national newspapers before the campaign began.
Asked why he had not met others, he said: "For no other reason than that it didn't arise. An opportunity arose and we met and that was it. There was no big deal about it."
Asked if Sir Anthony had raised any of his own business interests, Mr Cowen said: "No. Not at all. It was simply a question of trying to make sure from our point of view that the Fianna Fáil position can be ably represented in all media outlets. Discussions take place all the time with proprietors, presenters and everybody else to get that across," he said, speaking during Fianna Fáil's morning press conference.
Rejecting any suggestions that private undertakings were offered, or sought, Mr Cowen said: "That isn't the way we operate.
"Nor was it requested. I am just telling you the truth," he told Browne.
A spokesman for Sir Anthony O'Reilly could not be contacted last night.
