Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the party is not looking to score points by tabling a no-confidence motion in Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Ms McDonald said his leak of a copy of the GP contract to a friend was an example of a claustrophobic, entitled, obnoxious politics, which had left people in difficulties with a substandard health service and no guarantee of a roof over their heads.
She said the move by Sinn Féin was a very serious act and she did not accept that the "edifice of government" would crumble.
The Dublin Central TD also said the version of events set out by Mr Varadkar was implausible and inaccurate.
The Tánaiste earlier this week apologised in the Dáil for "errors of judgement" after he gave a copy of a contract negotiated between the government and the Irish Medical Organisation to rival GP group, the National Association of General Practitioners, in April last year.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said the level of accountability Sinn Féin are seeking has already happened through Mr Varadkar facing questions on the matter in the Dáil.
Speaking on the same programme, Mr Donohoe said the Tánaiste went into the Dáil on the first sitting day after the incident emerged and admitted that his judgement was a lapse in his standards.
Asked what was to stop another minister from leaking confidential documents in future if there were no sanctions, Mr Donohoe said the sanction was "the accountability of Dáil Éireann".
Mr Donohoe said in considering the level of sanction needed, it was important to "consider the track record of the person in the round", before pointing to Mr Varadkar leading the government through Brexit talks and "handling issue after issue regarding public pay".
He said the standards that some are calling for are the standards that the Tánaiste has met day after day, and that Mr Varadkar acknowledged the issue publicly, consulted with government leaders, and went into the Dáil and apologised.
Mr Donohoe said it was a matter for all TDs to decide in how they vote in the upcoming motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste.
He said he hoped Brexit and the track record of Mr Varadkar would be in their minds as the voted.
Mr Donohoe accused Sinn Féin of "pointing the finger, and never showing the way", adding that there is always heat from them, "but never any light".
