The controversial speech on the Nice Treaty by the Attorney General Mr Michael McDowell was criticised by the Opposition parties yesterday.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said the "extraordinary views" expressed by Mr McDowell had served to further expose the lamentable lack of leadership by the Taoiseach.
The Attorney General, he said, the legal adviser to the Government and the protector of the public interest, had put himself squarely in the Eurosceptic camp, "an untenable position for the person who is required to advise the Government on how to proceed in light of the referendum outcome".
He said Mr McDowell had complained there was an absence of real democratic input into EU decision-making. "I must point out that the Government of which he is legal adviser has dropped the practice of prompt, regular reports to the Oireachtas on EU developments.
"The last such report, covering the first half of 1999, appeared 16 months later in October 2000."
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said while Mr McDowell's comments were more reasoned in tone than those of the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, they raised more questions about this Government and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern than they answered.
His party is to publish draft legislation tomorrow which they will take in Private Members' time in the Dail next week to insist on the accountability of Irish ministers to the respective Dail committees.
Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent said Mr McDowell was abusing his position as Attorney General.
Mr Sargent said the published views of the Attorney General on developments in the EU amounted to more anti-Government speech from within the ranks of the Government itself.
However, his party colleague MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said she welcomed Mr McDowell's "attack on increased EU integration and the creation of a European federal superstate".
"Mr McDowell's criticism of the unelected officials who are pushing this agenda without the consent of the public is indeed justified," said Ms McKenna.