The Progressive Democrats have raised concerns with their Government partners about the suitability of the appointment of Ireland's new honorary consul to Pakistan - the candidate supported for the post by Fianna Fail TD Mr John Ellis.
Mr Haseeb Ahsan has been nominated by the Government.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, has approved Mr Ahsan's appointment despite the fact that the Irish Ambassador in Tehran had slightly favoured another candidate after interviews.
A spokesman for the Minister said Foreign Affairs officials in Dublin concluded that either candidate was suitable for the job and added: "It was the Minister's call." The nomination has yet to be ratified by the Pakistani government.
The spokesman confirmed that Mr Ellis, who had a £243,000 debt written off by NIB, made representations to Mr Andrews about Mr Ahsan's appointment.
Meanwhile, spokesmen for five other Pakistani banks have told The Irish Times that the State Bank of Pakistan, its central bank, is inquiring into the affairs of Indus Bank, the Karachi-based bank of which Mr Ellis and his wife Patricia are directors. Indus Bank denied this in a statement.
Mr Ellis declined to respond to several telephone calls yesterday.
Mr Ahsan is understood to be acquainted with Mr Khursid Sohail, president and chairman of the Indus Bank.
The Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said last night that while Mr Ellis made representations on behalf of Mr Ahsan, the Tanaiste's programme manager, Ms Katherine Bulbulia, made representations on behalf of another candidate. He said these two candidates and another five or so were interviewed by the Irish Ambassador in Tehran, Mr Tom Lyons.
"In his report Mr Lyons was slightly in favour of the candidate promoted by Katherine Bulbulia." said the spokesman. "However the view of officials in the Department before the matter got to the Minister was that either candidate could do the job. It was decided in the end of the day to nominate Mr Ahsan. It was the Minister's call."
A Progressive Democrats spokesman refused to comment on the party's concern about Mr Ahsan's suitability as honorary consul.
Fine Gael has asked Mr Ellis to step aside as chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine, a position which is worth about £10,000 a year.
A member of the committee, Fine Gael's spokesman on Agriculture, Mr Paul Connaughton, and Fine Gael TD Mr Michael Finucane met Mr Ellis privately on Wednesday and told him his position as chairman of the committee was untenable. Mr Ellis said he would reflect on the request.
The position of honorary consul to Pakistan has been vacant since last year following the controversial departure of Dr Nadeem Beg.
Dr Beg unsuccessfully sought a meeting this week with the Tanaiste, Ms Harney and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.