The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, has rebuffed a claim by the Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, that he interfered in the Westminster election campaign in the North.
He said he has as much right to travel to the North as Sinn Féin politicians do to the South.
Mr Adams said he had written to the Government to complain about the Minister visiting Eddie McGrady of the SDLP in his South Down constituency earlier this week.
The Sinn Féin leader said support for the SDLP from parties in the Republic was to be expected at election times, but in this case Mr Ahern was acting in his ministerial capacity.
Mr Ahern said he had made it clear to the SDLP that he would not be electioneering on his visit.
