The Minister for Education refused to be drawn on controversial remarks made by the Minister for Finance in the Dail on Wednesday.

Dr Woods was taking the Order of Business, in the absence of the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, when he was asked by the Labour deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, to dissociate the Government from Mr McCreevy's reference to the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Independents supporting the Coalition as hypocrites.

"Is that the Government's view of the Irish League of Credit Unions and the backbenchers who support the Government or was it simply another solo run by the Minister for Finance?"

The Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, said that the previous day's debate could not be reopened.

Dr Woods said that there would be further discussions between the credit union movement and the Taoiseach and Tanaiste.