The Sinn Féin leader has asked the Government to amend planning laws to ensure there can be no inappropriate contact between business people and politicians in relation to planning matters.
During Order of Business in the Dáil, Mary Lou McDonald raised the Taoiseach's comments in Washington last week in which he outlined an intervention he made in relation to a planning matter involving the Doonbeg golf course owned by US President Donald Trump.
Leo Varadkar, who was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport at the time, said he contacted Clare County Council following a call from Mr Trump.
However, Mr Varadkar subsequently told reporters in New York that he contacted the tourism authority Fáilte Ireland about the matter and not the council.
Today, Ms McDonald said the scenario outlined by the Taoiseach "raised a real concern of ministerial interference in the planning process".
She said: "It is a bad situation where a minister takes a call on behalf of a wealthy businessman."
"There is scope for the perception of inappropriate contact."
Ms McDonald asked if the Government intended to amend forthcoming planning legislation to ensure that such contact is legally prohibited.
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said there was no inappropriate contact in that case.
He said Sinn Féin is perfectly entitled to submit an amendment to the planning laws.
