Two more Progressive Democrat senators have joined the criticism of the nomination of Mr Hugh O'Flaherty as vice-president of the European Investment Bank, reflecting widespread annoyance throughout the party at their leadership's acquiescence in the decision.
While three of the party's four senators have now criticised the nomination, for the second day running all four PD deputies - Ms Harney, Ministers of State Ms Liz O'Donnell and Mr Bobby Molloy and former leader Mr Desmond O'Malley - either failed to respond to telephone messages or said through spokespersons they were "unavailable".
However, the silence of the four deputies who will walk through the division lobbies tonight in support of the nomination was not reflected elsewhere in the party, where deep concern and anger was expressed in various parts of the State.
There was further irritation that three of the party's four deputies - Ms Harney, Mr O'Malley and Mr Molloy - knew of and approved of the decision, while Ms O'Donnell was said to be deeply annoyed at the fact that alone of the party's TDs she had not been told of the plan.
This morning's meeting of the eight-person Progressive Democrats' parliamentary party will be dominated by the controversy. However, despite the criticism there appears to be no proposal that the party attempts to reverse the decision.
Senators Mairin Quill and Jim Gibbons yesterday joined Senator Helen Keogh in criticising the nomination.
According to Ms Quill, "in the current climate it was an error of judgment on the part of the Government to offer this appointment to Hugh O'Flaherty".
She said Mr O'Flaherty was "a very honourable person" and she deeply regretted that he had been drawn into such controversy again.
Mr Gibbons said the nomination "causes me some concern, but as to whether it's a matter one should pull out of government on is another thing - I don't think so". He said he had known nothing about it until it was announced last Friday, and that many party members were very angry about it.
Ms Quill, a founder member of the PDs, has announced that she is to quit politics. It is understood that Senator Quill had been considering her position in politics for some months and her announcement yesterday came as no real surprise.
Ms Quill said that while she intended to remain in local politics in Cork she felt that the time had come to quit national politics. The growing commitment required to be a member of the Oireachtas meant that she had increasingly less time to spend with friends and family members, she added, and said she was very proud to have served as a politician.