Progressive Democrats Minister of State Tom Parlon said yesterday that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had "very serious questions to answer".
Regarding money given to the Taoiseach, Mr Parlon said: "I think in this case the fact that they were very close personal friends would dilute that particular compromise but at the same time I think it's not in anybody's interest that a member of government should be beholden to anybody."
He told Today FM radio: "I do believe - to whatever extent - he is compromised and I think that anybody that is found to have taken money [ would be].
"But on the other hand it was 14 years ago and a different regime and, you know, like Michael McDowell said, I think that he has very serious questions to answer and they should be answered in the Dáil."
Mr Parlon said he had sympathy for the Taoiseach as at this stage of his life he was someone who had made a massive contribution to the country.
"But unfortunately he is compromised and he is going to have to come clean and I think in the Dáil next Tuesday is the time to do that," he said. "I do not believe for a minute that there was corruption involved or the Taoiseach was compromised in terms of the people who gave him the money. I think it was solidarity with him in a difficult situation," he said.
"He did give the facts to the tribunal in confidence but I think the fact that it's leaked out, the fact he hasn't paid it back and the fact that there are still questions to be answered means it needs to be addressed very quickly," Mr Parlon concluded.
Later he told reporters at the ploughing championships in Carlow he was "quite happy to wait until Tuesday for the explanation".