There are calls for Fine Gael TD Dara Murphy to answer questions about his Dáil attendance record since taking up a role based largely in Brussels two years ago.
Fianna Fáil wants Dara Murphy investigated under ethics rules for his Oireachtas attendance record.
Deputy Murphy was elected as a TD for Cork North Central in 2011, and has previously served as a minister of state for European affairs.
In September 2017, he was appointed as the European People Party's campaign director for this year's European elections.
Since taking the EPP role, he has continued to draw his full Dáil salary of more than €94,000 a year, as well as more than €50,000 worth of annual allowances.
Figures released by the Houses of the Oireachtas shows he only attended 24 out of 70 sitting days in the Dáil between January and September - the lowest number of any TD.
Deputy Murphy is expected to resign his seat before the end of the year to take up a new post.
However, the Irish Times reports Fianna Fáil has called for an investigation into Deputy Murphy's recent Dáil attendance.
"Number of questions"
Speaking today, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan thinks there are questions that need to be answered by his party colleague.
He said: "A number of questions have been posed to Dara Murphy - I believe it's important that he clear it up.
"A simple statement can put these matters to bed."
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, meanwhile, said it's a very serious issue.
Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin says the claiming of Dail allowances by Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Dara Murphy - despite him spending much of the last 2 years working in Brussels and having the lowest Dail attendance record - needs to be investigated pic.twitter.com/Ll1Gkyy0w8
— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) November 30, 2019
He argued: "There's no doubt that across the north-side [of Cork] it was a well-known fact... that effectively there was one TD not operating for the last two years.
"That does create a certain anger - people elect people they expect to work for them.
"Fine, people are entitled to take other options... but do it upfront. I think he should have resigned much earlier."
Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan suggested there are 'serious questions to be answered'.
The Fianna Fáil deputy said: "The optics of it are very poor.
"When you are elected to the Dáil, the public expect you to be there to do your work to the best of your ability.
"We are posing questions in relation to that, and we are awaiting answers."
Deputy Moynihan argued that most TDs he knows are working "24 hours a day seven days a week" - across Dublin and their own constituencies.
He said: "They are very intense roles, and you have to give it your all - and the public expect you to give it your all."
