Our Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has a personal usher, no less. Among the two dozen contracts of appointment put into the public domain last week as a result of the Paddy Duffy controversy is one for Frank Worley. The letter from the Department of the Taoiseach dated February 1998 contains the usual details about salary (£15,327), terms and the constraints of the Official Secrets Act and his duties, which include receiving visitors and constituents at receptions and accompanying them to their destination as well as assisting at functions hosted by the Taoiseach. The personal usher was previously a director of elections in Ahern's constituency.