Cardinal Connell and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, have both denied that there was any request for Ms Celia Larkin not to travel to the Vatican for the cardinal's elevation in February.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach said last night it was "completely and utterly untrue and without foundation" to suggest the Vatican had declined to invite Ms Larkin on the grounds of protocol. "The issue of Ms Larkin travelling to Rome never arose because she was never available to go," he said.
A spokesman for Cardinal Connell concurred, denying a section of a report in yesterday's Irish Catholic. However, the cardinal's spokesman, Father Damien McNeice, confirmed that Ms Larkin's name did not appear on the letter of invitation sent to the cardinal for Monday night's State reception.
The invitation to the cardinal was issued by the Taoiseach and the Government. Father McNeice said the first invitation for the reception was made verbally to the cardinal in February by the Taoiseach at the Consistory in Rome. This was followed by a letter which offered the invitation on behalf of the Taoiseach and the Government.
Father McNeice said it was unfortunate that other elements of Cardinal Connell's speech on Monday night, which dealt with issues including the influence of the market society, had been overlooked. He pointed out that Bishop William Walsh had said the cardinal's address at the reception was not a "stinging rebuke" as it has been described.
When the Vatican had announced the cardinal's elevation Mr Ahern had issued a glowing tribute to him. The cardinal said he would be honoured if the Taoiseach attended.
"The Taoiseach's department got in touch with Archbishop's House asking what they should do about going. Archbishop's House said any questions in relation to the Government's representatives travelling would be dealt with by the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See. There was no request in relation to Ms Larkin," he said.
On Tuesday night Mr Ahern said there had been "no controversy between myself and the cardinal or between my protocol and the cardinal's protocol". He had made it clear to the cardinal that the invitation was from him as Taoiseach and from the Government. "And on that basis he accepted," he said.
Mr Ahern said he accepted Cardinal Connell's views. He had used the same format on his invitation cards since he became Taoiseach. "Not to do so would have created controversy."