The Minister of State at the Department of Transport Ivor Callely has today declined to comment on reports that he personally offered a member of staff a new car in a bid to prevent them resigning.
Mr Callely said the issue was a personnel matter and that he would not be commenting.
Part of a letter of resignation from the Minister's constituency secretary, Niall Phelan, was published in today's Irish Times.
In the letter, Mr Phelan said Mr Callely's offer "to personally gift me a new car to encourage me to remain on in my role is wholly inappropriate".
The political appointee went on to state that his decision was irrevocable and that overwhelming factors supported his decision to resign. However, these reasons have not been revealed.
The issue is particularly embarrassing for Mr Callely coming as it does just weeks after the decision of Una McDermott, his private secretary, to also resign.
However, the reasons for the resignations are not connected. Ms McDermott resigned after being asked by the Minister to attend a function she considered as political. She has now taking up a different role in the Department.
Several civil servants, possibly as many as four, have also applied to transfer from Mr Callely's office.
Opposition parties have not been slow to criticise Mr Callely. The Labour Party said action was required by the Taoiseach to clarify a number of issues relating to the Minister, including his use of "public service advertising, paid for by the taxpayer to promote the Minister's political profile".