Ms Celia Larkin, the Taoiseach's partner, last night stayed in the background at the Dublin Castle reception to honour Cardinal Desmond Connell, following controversy about her role.
Although her name was on the invitation card alongside the Taoiseach's, Ms Larkin's place on the receiving line at the Dublin Castle reception was taken by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney.
The Government sharply denied that Ms Larkin had been snubbed. But no explanation was offered for her absence from the receiving line - on which she has stood in the past on State occasions.
A spokesman for the Tanaiste said it had been decided last week that Ms Harney would join the Taoiseach. "I don't think that this was a big issue," he said.
The reception was to congratulate Dr Connell on his elevation to cardinal. Claims that he has been embarrassed have not been confirmed.
A Government press officer made it clear to at least one journalist at the reception that they were not there to report on the occasion.
The Taoiseach's spokesman denied any instruction had been issued to bar working journalists from the reception: "We had no demand from anybody until this blew up today," he complained.
Television camera crews and newspaper photographers were brought in in small groups to record the welcoming ceremony.
Since becoming Taoiseach in 1997 Mr Ahern has hosted events alongside Ms Larkin and invitation cards have been issued in both their names.
Yesterday, the Department of the Taoiseach's protocol section declined to answer questions about the reception, "in line with the normal custom and practice adopted in such occasions".
Some of the 1,400 invitees sent apologies in advance, though it is not known whether many did so because of prior engagements or disapproval of the way the event had been handled.
Yesterday Father Arthur O'Neill, who serves in Westland Row parish for which Cardinal Connell has "special care", criticised the arrangements for the reception on RTE news.
He said "the private lives of public people remain private until and unless they themselves place their private lives straight slap-bang in the spotlight of the public glare".
Asked if Dr Connell should have turned down the invitation because of Ms Larkin's highprofile role, Father O'Neill said he was a courteous man: "If he was invited to come, he would turn up," he said.
