The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says he still expects Frank Flannery to give evidence, despite resigning from the Rehab Group yesterday.

The Tánaiste's told the Dáil he's also stepping down from the role of chair of the Government's Forum on Philanthropy. 

The former chief executive stood down from Rehab last night and also resigned his roles with the Fine Gael party.

The PAC Chairman John McGuinness says the Committee wrote to Mr. Flannery yesterday asking him to appear before it to answer questions.

He says he expects Mr. Flannery and other members of the Rehab remunerations committee to cooperate with that request.

PAC is expecting documentation from Rehab in the coming days, which it will discuss at its meeting on Thursday.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also promised progress on the long-promised lobbying legislation:Yesterday Mr Flannery said his involvement with Rehab was making it the subject of political controversy which he wanted to avoid.

He has been in the spotlight since failing to appear at a meeting of the PAC two weeks ago, despite being invited as the chairman of the remuneration committee for Rehab.

His statement yesterday made no reference to the call by the PAC for him to be quizzed by them.

Mr McGuinness told Newstalk Breakfast there is often speculation about having to compel witnesses to appear at a PAC hearing, but that does not usually arise.