FIANNA Fail and the Progressive Democrats are still demanding an apology in the Dail chamber from the Minister for Social Welfare, but Mr De Rossa is insisting the controversy over his statement on the appointment of five advisers to his private office is now "closed".
A spokesman for Mr De Rossa last night said the Minister's letter to the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, marked the end of the matter. "That is it," he said.
But the Opposition parties last night declared the matter far from over and said Mr De Rossa must still personally set the record of the House straight.
They described as "inadequate" a letter from the Minister to the Ceann Comhairle in which he apologised to members of the House who felt misled by his statement.
Mr De Rossa had told the Dail that the five jobs in the research unit of his Department were not advertised but later had to acknowledge that notice, of the appointments was published in the Democratic Left newsletter, Forum, under "vacancies".
In his letter to Mr Treacy, Mr De Rossa said when he informed the Dail that the positions were not advertised, he was making a statement consistent with his understanding of the term "advertisement".
But Mr Joe Walsh of Fianna Fail last night dismissed a suggestion by a spokesman for the Minister that the matter was now "closed".
"He may think so. But, this is a diluted, half hearted apology. The time honoured way of correcting the record of the House is by standing up in the Dail and doing so. Past Taoisigh have had to do it and their stature has been enhanced as a result. He should be man enough to do that too," Mr Walsh said.
A failure by Mr De Rossa to correct the record of the House would "very definitely undermine the democratic system", he added. If he refuses, Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats would move their joint Private Members motion calling on the Minister to resign or explain his remarks.
"I hope that good sense will prevail and that the Taoiseach, who has supported the Minister, will call on him to do just that. That is, if the Taoiseach has any remnant of openness, transparency and accountability left," Mr Walsh said.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Democrats spokesman on finance, Mr Michael McDowell, said his party was also insisting that a statement be made to the House. The Private Members motion, in his name and that of Mr Walsh, had been set out in "conciliatory terms" to allow the Minister time to correct the record. But, if he refused, the motion would be moved after the two days of statements on the peace process.