The RTE political correspondent, Una Claffey, has been appointed political adviser to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Ms Claffey, according to a statement, will assist the Taoiseach in developing and co-ordinating strategy in co-operation with Ministers and will be answerable directly to the Taoiseach.
She joins a team of advisers to Mr Ahern: Mr Gerry Hickey, programme manager; Mr Gerry Howlin, political adviser; Ms Barbara Jones, scriptwriter, who is a civil servant; Mr Peter McDonagh, special adviser; Mr Martin Mansergh, special adviser on economic and Northern Ireland matters; and Mr Joe Lennon, Government Press Secretary and also a civil servant. The salary for political advisers is around £55,000.
A Government spokesman said last night the Taoiseach wanted someone to develop strategy with Ministers and Ministers of State which he felt was an important area that needed to be concentrated on.
Ms Claffey, who is in her early 50s, joined RTE in 1977 where she has worked in various roles, including presenter/reporter with Today Tonight and as a presenter with Morning Ireland. In 1993 she published a book on the female politicians in the 27th Dail called The Women Who Won. She is part of RTE's political team based in Leinster House which is headed by a political editor, Donal Kelly. It is understood she has handed in her notice at RTE rather than taking a career break.
A native of Dublin, she has a BA in history, ethics/politics and metaphysics from University College Dublin. She also studied politics in the US and holds a diploma in French language and literature from the Universite d'Aix Marseille in Nice.