A Fine Gael General Election candidate has expressed her shock after Dáil facilities were used to promote her campaign.

Councillor Anne-Marie Dermody denied that she personally used Oireachtas envelopes to send out a letter to party members in the constituency.

It is understood that dozens of copies were distributed to members this week in Oireachtas envelopes - which is against the laws laid down by the Ethics Watchdog Sipo.

Ms Dermody suggested that members of her campaign team used the envelopes without her knowledge.

"I don't have access to those envelopes and that is why I was floored by the call from you," Ms Dermody said.

"I'm really disappointed. I don't need this. Clearly I'm upsetting people by my campaign. Maybe some people want to play dirty but that's not my style."

Irish Independent