FF campaign:Fianna Fáil and Independent Newspapers have refused to give details of a meeting which took place between senior party figures and Sir Anthony O'Reilly before the start of the election campaign.
Neither the party nor the newspaper would say who attended the meeting and what undertakings, if any, were given.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen confirmed on Monday that Fianna Fáil had met Sir Anthony to puts its position formally "to a proprietor of newspapers to see what way we can get our message across".
However, asked yesterday if at that meeting Sir Anthony had promised to give his support to Fianna Fáil, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said: "I don't know. I wasn't present at that meeting. In fact, I didn't know that meeting took place until I read the paper."
Speaking at Fianna Fáil's final election briefing before polling day, Mr Ahern said: "It would be normal practice to meet with owners of papers . . . I have been on delegations before . . . to different papers." He said from what he understood, there has been a discussion on the issue of coverage of the election but not support for the party.
Minister Séamus Brennan said that perhaps all the party leaders should be asked what editors they met. "My understanding is various meetings went on between all the political party leaders and editors."
Minister Mary Hanafin said: "Looking back, I don't think anyone could have accused the media of supporting us." A spokesman for Sir Anthony said last night he had "no comment to make" on the matter. A Fianna Fáil spokeswoman said the party had no further comment to make other than what Mr Cowen said at the party's briefing on Monday.
Mr Cowen said on Monday an opportunity had arisen to meet Sir Anthony and "any meetings that are private are private". There was no question of corporate interests being discussed but it was a discussion about the future and election preparations.