A second Fianna Fail TD is under increasing pressure over monies received from developers following Mr Liam Lawlor's resignation from the party after the publication of the Fianna Fail inquiry into payments to its councillors.
Political attention switched last night to Dublin North TD Mr G.V. Wright, after the Cork property developer Mr Owen O'Callaghan issued a statement flatly contradicting Mr Wright's claim that he did not solicit a major payment from him.
Mr Lawlor's resignation last night means the Government is approaching a situation where it is reliant on former TDs who left the party under a cloud, for its survival. Should Fianna Fail lose the Tipperary South by-election in two weeks, the Coalition would fall if Mr Lawlor and Mr Denis Foley voted against it.
While Mr Lawlor and Mr Foley - who resigned the Fianna Fail whip after it emerged he was an Ansbacher account-holder - have pledged to support the Government, the situation has put pressure on the Progressive Democrats to clarify their position.
A month ago the PDs said that anyone found to have acted improperly should resign their seat, even if this had "implications for the stability and continuance of the Government".
A PD spokesman refused last night to comment on yesterday's developments.
Mr O'Callaghan's statement contradicting Mr Wright came shortly after Mr Lawlor announced his resignation from Fianna Fail following the publication of the party inquiry into payments to politicians which accused him of being contradictory and of not co-operating with the investigation.
Mr Wright told the inquiry that he received £20,000 from property developers and their agents while holding the key position of party whip on Dublin County Council in 1991-1994, including £5,000 from Mr O'Callaghan. He insisted to the inquiry that the £20,000 he received, including Mr O'Callaghan's cheque, were unsolicited.
Mr O'Callaghan added to the pressure on the TD last night, insisting that he gave a £5,000 cheque to Mr Wright only after he directly asked him for an election contribution. The payment by cheque of £5,000 to Mr Wright followed "a direct request from G.V. Wright to him for electoral support", a spokesman for Mr O'Callaghan said.
Mr Wright said he did not want to comment on Mr O'Callaghan's claim last night.
He referred queries to his earlier statement in which he said all the contributions he received during his public life were "legitimate political donations from family, friends and supporters of the party".
Last night Mr Dick Roche TD, a member of the inquiry, said he was concerned about the contradictions between Mr Wright's evidence and Mr O'Callaghan's statement.
The 200-page report of the Fianna Fail Standards in Public Life Committee included strong criticism of Mr Lawlor's dealings with the inquiry.
Mr Lawlor said after announcing his resignation he took the action as he did not want to distract the workings of Government. ail that He tendered his resignation and told the Taoiseach of his decision in a 10-minute telephone call.
In a statement, the Taoiseach said he appreciated the difficult decision which Mr Lawlor made. He acknowledged the dedicated work which he had done as a Fianna Fail public representative over the past 23 years.