Former junior minister Bobby Molloy did only "one thing" wrong and that was to "appear to give an instruction to his secretary to make contact with the judicial system", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday.
Mr Ahern said he knew there had been an exchange of letters on Tuesday night when he said there was no need for Mr Molloy to resign. "Yes, because that's what politicians do. A Teachta Dala is a public representative and you make representations." He said he had "practically no details" when he made "a brief comment" to RTÉ reporter Charlie Bird, "who had far more detail than I knew on Tuesday night in Carlow town".
He said the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, had put everything in the public domain within 48 hours, which was "an extraordinary quick output".
He added: "You asked me when did I know - John O'Donoghue rang me yesterday morning about midday to tell me that he was putting out the statement."
In Sligo yesterday morning Mr Ahern said he had read the letters overnight. He said the "one thing we are talking about" was Mr Molloy appearing to tell his secretary to contact "the judicial system, that was wrong".
He said he did not think an independent inquiry into the matter was needed.