THE Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, has refused to respond to criticisms of her recent behaviour by Fine Gael TD Mr Charles Flanagan.
She has been at the centre of controversy since it emerged last week that she invited people to a £100 a head Labour Party fundraising function using semi official Government notepaper.
Ms Fitzgerald had promised that those attending would have a rare opportunity" to meet the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, who was then finalising the details of the Finance Bill.
Mr Flanagan, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Legislation and Security, said on Monday that every political party issued invitations to people to contribute to funds. But "I haven't seen a case where it was stated there would be a rare opportunity to discuss matters of such relevance to a Minister. I think that is the misdemeanour involved.
Speaking on RTE's Questions and Answers programme, Mr Flanagan said Ms Fitzgerald had displayed "an arrogance that hadn't been seen in Leinster House for some time". She had "lectured" TDs about ethics yet had written this fund raising letter.
A spokeswoman for Ms Fitzgerald said the Minister of State had nothing to say on the matter.
