The format of the promised investigation into the controversial Government public relations contract awarded to Ms Monica Leech is expected to be announced by Friday.
The method of investigation and the commencement date is "currently being considered" but a government spokesman could not confirm if it had been decided that someone other than the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would conduct the inquiry.
Yesterday in the Dail, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he believed it was already agreed that the PAC would investigate the matter but added that he would have "no problem with someone else looking at it". Mr Ahern did not say which body would conduct the investigation or when it would commence.
However, because the chairman of the PAC Mr Michael Noonan has said that because the amount of money involved was relatively small it would be some time before the matter would be dealt with, it is likely to be another State body or a former senior civil servant.
The controversy surrounds the hiring of PR executive Ms Monica Leech by the then Minister for the Environment, Mr Martin Cullen, in 2002.
Ms Leech was initially retained on a six-month short-term communications contract following a single tender process. She was subsequently awarded a longer-term contract despite reportedly tendering at a higher price than her competitors.
Mr Ahern admitted yesterday that the initial selection process was based on a fee of €800, a day, before VAT, for 12 days a month.