The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has become the first Cabinet member to be linked to payments from Mr Owen O'Callaghan, the Cork property developer at the centre of the Flood tribunal payments-to-politicians controversy.
Mr Martin confirmed last night that he received a total of £6,500 in payments from Mr O'Callagh an over four general and local elections since 1989.
A second Fianna Fail TD and constituency colleague of the Minister, Mr Batt O'Keeffe, also admitted in a statement last night that he received £10,000 from Mr O'Callaghan for election expenses in 1992.
Mr Martin's confirmation that he received donations from Mr O'Callaghan over four election campaigns will be a major embarrassment for the Government.
Mr Frank Dunlop has revealed to the Flood tribunal that he paid £185,000 to different county councillors and Oireachtas members for their assistance in rezoning in Dublin.
The money was paid on behalf of Mr O'Callaghan, who was behind the Quarryvale development.
The allegations prompted the recent payments to politicians inquiries by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Mr Liam Lawlor last week resigned from the Fianna Fail party following the publication of the party's report.
Mr O'Callaghan lives in the Cork South Central constituency.
Mr Martin last night said that Mr O'Callaghan was "a good supporter of the party".
He said he received £6,500 in electoral contributions from Mr O'Callaghan since 1989 for four elections.
Mr Martin said he has not informed the party of the payments as the recent party inquiry related to activities in Dublin.
He said the money was all spent on election literature. He said he did not receive any other payments in kind from Mr O'Callaghan and said he never paid towards the cost of running his constituency office.
"I received electoral contributions from Owen O'Callaghan, a constituent of mine and a good supporter of the party," the Minister said.
About £2,000 was spent on leaflets in the local elections. The money was all spent on election literature, he added.
"I only ever received funding for the purpose of election campaigns," the Minister added.
Mr Martin said he was aware of reports that Mr O'Callaghan sent details of payments to politicians, including the Minister, to the Flood tribunal. He said the Flood tribunal had made no contact with him. Mr O'Callaghan declined to comment on the matter. His spokesperson said: "All details of Owen O'Callaghan's political contributions have been supplied to the Flood tribunal."
Mr O'Keeffe said the money he received was for electoral expenses in 1992.
"I received one political donation eight years ago from Owen O'Callaghan immediately prior to the 1992 general election.
I was a senator at the time fighting to win a third seat for Fianna Fail in Cork South Central."