The John Ellis affair was last night beginning to cause friction between the Government parties, with the Progressive Democrat Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell, being told by a Fianna Fail backbencher to "mind her own business".
The rebuke came from the Wexford TD, Mr John Browne, one of nine Fianna Fail members of the Dail Committee on Agriculture and the Marine, of which Mr Ellis is chairman.
On Wednesday, Ms O'Donnell said it was her personal view that Mr Ellis should consider his position as committee chairman. Her comments came after Fine Gael members of the committee tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr Ellis's chairmanship for next Wednesday's meeting.
Contacted by The Irish Times last night, Mr Browne said: "Liz O'Donnell should mind her own business. This is a matter for Fianna Fail."
Mr Browne said he had not spoken to Mr Ellis in recent days, but added: "I am sure the Fianna Fail group will be discussing the matter in advance of next week's meeting."
A spokesman for the Progressive Democrats said last night that he had no comment to make.
It is understood that several of the Fianna Fail members of the committee have spoken to Mr Ellis in recent days. There is deep unease in the party at the fact that Mr Ellis does not appear to want to step down as chairman in advance of the Fine Gael motion.
It was learned that Mr Ellis is considering not attending next week's meeting and may request a "sub" to take his place.
Fine Gael said yesterday that its six members will consider withdrawing from the committee if it loses the motion. One said that the possibility of bringing the issue to the floor of the Dail might be considered.
Fine Gael tabled its motion after it emerged that Mr Ellis had a debt of £243,000 written off by National Irish Bank in 1991. The revelation angered a group of western farmers, who were owed £300,000 by Mr Ellis after his meat business collapsed in the late 1980s.
Mr Ellis is likely to come under intense pressure from colleagues at the weekend to step down. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, confirmed last night in Kosovo that he had met Mr Ellis last week, but said he had not urged him to resign, adds Mark Brennock.
He said he would not comment on what Mr Ellis should or should not do until he had been told what happened this week when Mr Ellis met the Government Chief Whip, Mr Brennan, and the chairman of the Fianna Fail party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon.