Fahey sorry as invites spark election row

FIANNA FÁIL was embroiled in another controversy last night involving accusations of abuse of ministerial office for party political gain in the forthcoming elections.

Junior Minister Frank Fahey admitted he was wrong to use official Department of Enterprise notepaper to invite business people to a Fianna Fáil breakfast. The apology comes after the country's ethics watchdog launched an investigation into Noel Dempsey's distribution of Department of Education confidential briefing notes to his party's local election candidates.

Mr Fahey had invited guests to an event being held for FF MEP Seán Ó Neachtáin's European election campaign where Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be guest speaker. The Labour Party has described the event, to be held in Galway, as a fundraiser.