Opposition members voiced strong concerns about the handling of a Government motion relating to conventions and protocols drawn up on the basis of an article of the Treaty on European Union.
But they could muster only seven votes when they opposed the Government's proposal on the business with which the house was to deal.
Mr Maurice Manning, Fine Gael leader in the House, said that in the current climate the Opposition would be remiss if it did not get an explanation of the composite motion and what exactly was being referred to a committee for further discussion.
The matter should be deferred for at least 24 hours for clarification, he said.
A complaint that had surfaced in recent times was that a great deal of complicated European legislation was going through without a proper explanation.
Mr Manning said he also felt that the Attorney General should be invited to address the House on the remarks that he had made earlier this week at a meeting of the Institute of European Affairs.
Mr McDowell had raised very serious questions and had made some constructive comments. It would be worth while to hear his views and it might also help to take out of disarray the current shambles that was Government policy on Europe.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) complained that over the past number of months the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Mr Solbes, had found himself too busy to meet the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the public services.
The Commissioner, who would be in Ireland this week, had once again refused to meet an elected committee. This was appalling.
At a time when the European debate was being taken up here, this contempt being shown by the Commissioner would not help the European project.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) said he did not understand the Government motion. It was outrageous that something as important as that, especially as it involved money laundering, should go through without a debate, as the Government wished.