The use by the Minister for Education of civil servants to prepare information documents exclusively for Fianna Fáil party candidates was a disgraceful misuse of public money, the leader of the Fine Gael Party said this afternoon.
Speaking from the party's Ardfheis in Dublin Mr Enda Kenny said "for the Minister for Education to require that civil servants in the Department of Education would prepare exclusive and confidential information packs for Fianna Fail, puts you in the position that you have to say the Minister doesn't understand the difference between right and wrong."
On RTE Radio, Mr Kenny declined to call for the resignation of the Minister saying this was a matter for the Taosieach. He did however, call on Mr Ahern to ask Mr Dempsey why he felt he could "misuse and abuse public monies for putting together information for the exclusive use of Fianna Fail candidates".
Mr Kenny suggested the move smacked of typical Fianna Fáil politics in the run up to an election
Yesterday the Taoiseach distanced himself from the issue saying he would examine the reports.
The Standards in Public Office Commission is also set to seek an explanation from the Minister next week.