Former minister of state Mr Lorcan Allen has admitted he was "totally guilty" of forging the letter he sent to constituents with the Taoiseach's signature on it, Mr Ahern has told the Dáil.
The Taoiseach said the investigation of the issue was "fairly clear. The individual concerned has already said he is totally guilty, the letter was forged and it was an inappropriate use." Fianna Fáil's general secretary would be reporting to the national executive on the matter next week, he added.
The controversial letter sent by Mr Allen during the local elections campaign to some 2,000 constituents, appeared to come from the Taoiseach, endorsed Mr Allen as a "patriotic and honest" Wexford County Council candidate and sought constituents' number one vote for him. Mr Ahern reiterated that "the person has stated it was a misuse and an abuse and that he was totally incorrect to use the signature".
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach should not be talking about the general secretary or the national executive of Fianna Fáil. Holding up a copy of the letter printed, he said it "has a picture of the Taoiseach on it and it states 'a lot done, more to do'. The Taoiseach's signature appears on it." Mr Kenny claimed that if the Taoiseach did not take action on the matter, his "name and title could be used in anything from an application from a student for a summer job in McDonald's to somebody wishing to enter the US, with a reference from Bertie Ahern".
The Taoiseach said: "I did not have any prior knowledge that my signature was to be used on a letter to voters in Gorey. Had I known, naturally I would have taken steps to ensure it would not happen. The person has stated it was a misuse and an abuse and that he was totally incorrect to use the signature. I have given a reply on the matter and it now falls on my party to deal with it."
Mr Kenny said "this ethical scandal comes in a long list. I remind the Taoiseach of his signing of blank cheques, which he admitted some years ago. There were reports of Fianna Fáil election literature stapled to voting cards. There was the misuse of the diplomatic bag in the case of a letter which was actually signed by the Taoiseach."
Mr Ahern said he could list a "fair litany of instances", including the use of Oireachtas envelopes by Oireachtas members from other parties. "It may be best to leave it to what has been stated by the Standards in Public Office Commission, that there should not be a misuse of public funds given either to political parties or to office holders."
