MR FERGUS FINLAY, political adviser to the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, has been accused of playing a "Machiavellian role" in the awarding of the divorce referendum contract to the QMP advertising agency.
The Fianna Fail spokesman on the environment, Mr Noel Dempsey, said it was clear that Mr Finlay had played "a major role in the flawed procedures" which led to the appointment of QMP. The agency is headed by Mr Conor Quinn, brother of the Minister for Finance.
Mr Dempsey said: "Mr Finlay controlled that procedure which took place without the knowledge of Labour's partners in government at that time. So much for talk about openness and accountability.
"Mr Finlay is not an accounting officer and the question has to be asked as to whom he was accountable to, especially in light of the fact that Mr Finlay said that the Tanaiste had nothing to do with it. Where then is the democratic accountability?"
Mr Dempsey maintained that it was clear Mr Finlay had known that the contract was going to be awarded to QMP for more than 12 months. If he had not decided this himself, who had informed him of the decision?
"It is interesting to note that Mr Quinn and Mr Spring and Mr [Mervyn] Taylor have left Mr Finlay to defend himself", Mr Dempsey said.
It was "abundantly clear" that Mr Finlay had much more influence in Labour than many of the party's elected members, he added.