The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, is still seeking an apology from the Taoiseach for implying that he, as former Taoiseach, could have been responsible for leaking the contents of Foreign Affairs briefing documents.
In an exchange of letters over the controversy, Mr Ahern is believed to have informed Mr Bruton yesterday afternoon that one of the members of his political staff, Mr Shane Kenny, could have taken out parts of the Department's green book. It was accepted, nonetheless, that he did not leak the documents relating to Prof McAleese.
Mr Bruton, in response, sought an apology from Mr Ahern. He also maintained that the innuendo that there was some wrongdoing by him, or his political staff, was entirely false.
A spokesman for Mr Bruton said last night he would not ask again for the apology.
Both leaders decided yesterday to keep the contents of the letters confidential.
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael spokesman on the environment, Mr Alan Dukes, accused the columnist Vincent Browne of including "an unprincipled slander on Fine Gael" in The Irish Times yesterday.
Mr Browne could not back up what he called his "grounds for suspicion", Mr Dukes said, and called on him to withdraw the charge. "Perhaps Mr Browne should consider issuing his second abject apology of the current presidential campaign," Mr Dukes added.
