There was confusion this evening over whether the gardaí were investigating the possible leak of a confidential Government memorandum on the future of Aer Rianta.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, earlier told the Dáil that the gardaí had launched an inquiry into how it was that the Labour Party had got its hands on the memo.
However a garda spokesman this afternoon told ireland.comthat no such investigation was taking place.
Mr Ahern had complained that the Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte had used a certain "formula of words" which was only found in the Government document.
He was referring to a contribution from Mr Rabbitte yesterday in which the Labour leader read into the Dáil record parts of a Cabinet memo which he said showed the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, had opposed giving the go-ahead for legislation to break-up Aer Rianta.
In today's leaders' questions in the Dáil the Labour leader responded to Mr Ahern's assertion that the gardaí were investigating the leak by saying he was sure that better use could be found for Garda resources.
He accused the Government of being untruthful to the staff at Aer Rianta over its plans for the company and asked if Ryanair's chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary was pulling the strings.
Mr Rabitte yesterday claimed the memo quoted Mr McCreevy as saying the break-up plans might have to be reviewed, as legal issues and questions about the company's share capital and regulation emerged.
The memorandum, dated October 14th, said: "The Minister for Finance therefore considers that the drafting of heads of a Bill and the introduction of legislation at this stage is premature and, accordingly, is not in agreement with the decision sought. The drafting of legislation should be done when all issues are resolved."
The Minister of Transport, Mr Seamus Brennan, made no attempt to dispute Mr Rabbitte's claims but a spokesman said Mr McCreevy had "made it clear both inside and outside the Cabinet that he is fully supportive of the restructuring measures.