Taoiseach Bertie Ahern rejected a claim that he had taken a "benign interpretation" of the Quigley report on the awarding of public-relations contracts to Monica Leech.
He was replying to Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, who said that Ms Leech was a political associate of Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
Mr Ahern said the Minister and Ms Leech rejected the suggestions that they did not in any way complete the full work contracted for, whatever about the rates of salary, expenses and allowances.
"They were agreed as part of the contract. The report notes that both departments involved were very satisfied with the quality of work done by Ms Leech. I am certainly not in a position to take an alternative view. I do not know on what basis Deputy Rabbitte makes his assertion," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Rabbitte said they were talking about a very large amount of taxpayers' money.
"The person in the eye of this storm did not have the remotest experience commensurate with the level of fees being commanded. Her employment as a political adviser would have been more appropriate, perhaps with a dimension of public relations and marketing skills."
Mr Rabbitte added that the Taoiseach and he both knew that senior civil servants were very protective of their ministers past and present. "The fact that this is written in temperate language does not underplay the gravity of what was at issue here."
Mr Ahern said the evidence he had read did not suggest that Ms Leech had no qualifications to carry out the job and none of the people concerned had voiced that opinion.
"I appreciate that Deputy Rabbitte has formed that view, but it is not one formed by the department, the former chairperson of the OPW, the current chairperson of the OPW, people involved in marketing over 20 years or any of the other people with whom Ms Leech was associated," said Mr Ahern.
