FF used diplomatic bag to lobby for votes

FOREIGN AFFAIRS Minister Brian Cowen said yesterday he would be ordering a review of the use of the diplomatic postbag to circulate party political material.

Fianna Fáil has come under fire from opposition parties since it emerged diplomatic staff abroad were sent campaign messages along with their voting forms.

Mr Cowen insisted there was nothing wrong with using the diplomatic bag to lobby for votes, but said he would order a review in the interests of clarity.

“Inquiries were made by Fianna Fáil ... there was no objection and it was sent on that basis,” he said. “It’s open for any other party to do the same if they made the same inquiry. But for the future, to avoid any misunderstanding, I’m asking the department to take a review and issue some guidelines on this whole area.”

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has echoed the sentiment, denying there was anything improper about the practice, which he said had been going on for 20 years. “It’s in the electoral act that you can do this, that you can send a letter,” he said.

Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte described the move as a “serious misuse of power,” while Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny demanded an explanation.

“Once again we see the Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil colleagues using public facilities for party political gain,” he said.