Minister for Transport Shane Ross has been accused of making "scandalous and outrageous" accusations that politicians have been appointing their friends as judges.
Independent Senator Michael McDowell told the Seanad it was "shameful" for Mr Ross to have made this allegation against other members of the Cabinet.
Speaking during a debate on the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, Mr McDowell said it was a "cod" to suggest that the Government was united on the proposed legislation, and he urged Fine Gael members of the Seanad to call Mr Ross' bluff.
"Let him go, he will do nothing," he said.
He described Mr Ross as a man with a profound animus against the judiciary.
Under the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, judges will be selected by a body made up of lay majority and a lay chairperson, but which will also include up to five judges and three lawyers.
The lay members would be chosen by the Public Appointments Service.
Labour senator Ivana Bacik said she agreed with the views of the attorney general who reportedly said aspects of the bill were a "dog's dinner".
The bill has been championed by Mr Ross, and is supported by Sinn Féin but opposed by Fianna Fáil.
Senior judges have also been vocal in their opposition to the proposed legislation.
The bill was also criticised by a European anti-corruption watchdog.
The Council of Europe's corruption prevention body GRECO said it had significant concerns about the composition of the new appointments commission.
It said judges would be placed in "a clear minority position" and this was not in line with European standards.
