A member of the Government Information Service (GIS) has been suspended after he defended the reputation of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on yesterday's RTÉ 2FM Gerry Ryan Show under a false name.
Calling himself "Brian", the official, Mr Ben Dunne, participated in the show without Government permission following a debate on the programme with the Labour leader, Mr Ruairí Quinn, about the state of politics.
Mr Dunne's unauthorised participation came to the attention of Department of the Taoiseach officials by mid-afternoon, sparking immediate consultations with the Department's secretary-general, Mr Dermot McCarthy.
Following questions from The Irish Times, the Department, in a brief statement, said Mr Dunne had been suspended pending an investigation under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
No GIS official had been asked to appear on any radio programme and none is asked to do so unless "it is in accordance with his or her duty", the Department said.
In his 90-second participation, Mr Dunne strongly defended Mr Ahern's decision to appoint Mr Burke as minister for foreign affairs in 1997. His decision to call the programme left colleagues shocked last night.
He said on the show: "The Taoiseach was listening to rumour and innuendo and had no evidence. He could not accuse Mr Burke at the time of being anything other than honest.
"I think he acted on what he knew at the time as evidence and proof. I mean, if a rumour starts about Gerry Ryan is Gerry Ryan guilty without any evidence?"
