Catherine Martin has said that the recent leak to a journalist regarding Katherine Zappone's appointment as Special Envoy for Freedom of Expression to the UN is "an internal matter for Fine Gael."
The Tourism Minister said that it was "not the way to do Government business."
The Deputy Green Party leader explained that she was unhappy with the process and that it has landed on the entire Cabinet of the Coalition.
"I think that's an internal matter for Fine Gael and I think that the Tanaiste is in the process of that," she said.
"It's not the way to do government business, I would not be satisfied with that...I'm not happy with the process and I'm not happy with this being landed on the Cabinet.
"The Green Party has stated that and that's why I hope lessons are learned and the transparency of the system is put in place.
"I would expect much better practice and that's the lesson that has to be learned here. Clarity needs to be given today."
However, during a later press conference, Minister Martin elaborated on her previous remarks and said: "Oh no, no I wasn’t referring to a Fine Gael Minister. I was saying that the memo was Fine Gael.
“I was referring to the fact that it was a Fine Gael memo that was leaked. It’s not the way to do business that a Minister is leaking but we don’t know who that Minster is or from what party they came from.
“It is an internal matter for Fine Gael that it was one of their memos that was leaked but it really is a Government-wide issue.”
During the interview with RTE, Ms Martin also called for "transparency" and "much better practice" before stating her belief that "it is the Minister's intention (Simon Coveney) to give that further clarity."
When asked to disclose exactly what was said during the Cabinet meeting and if due process was followed, Minister Martin told Today With Claire Byrne: "I respect Cabinet confidentiality and I'm not going to reveal what was said by whom at that Cabinet meeting.
"I have to recite Cabinet confidentiality, so I'm not going to reveal who said what. There is an article out there in the public but I'm not going to reveal that.
"What I'm saying to you is I'm unhappy with the process and I'm more disappointed again in the further revelations yesterday and that's why I want that clarity to be provided. In fairness to Minister Coveney, I think he will provide that."
It’s expected that Simon Coveney will soon write to the Foreign Affairs Committee to make himself available for further questions on the Katherine Zappone controversy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs file on the subject is also set to be released in the next few days.
Ms Martin added: "The handling of the appointment is what I'm saying was wrong. It should be transparent, and there should be consultation at the very least with the three party leaders. Then the process would be that they'd inform their members."
