The Labour Party has confirmed it has filed a complaint under the Ethics in Public Office Act to the Dáil's Committee on Members' Interests in relation to former minister of state Damien English.

Mr English stood down from his role last month when it emerged there were errors in a planning application he made to Meath County Council when he was applying for permission to build a house.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik had called on Mr English to make a statement to the Dáil on the matter.

However, Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has said it would be dealt with internally by his party.

The Dáil Committee on Members' Interests has powers to investigate alleged contraventions of the Ethics in Public Office Act.

Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Mr Bacik said it is important that Mr English's failure to declare property ownership in Meath is followed up.

She said Mr Varadkar suggested that there would be internal procedures within his party, but added "there seemed to be no follow-up and no scrutiny of what had happened".

"We have given the Taoiseach every chance to respond......on what action he proposes to take
as leader of the party."

She said it needs to be followed through the processes laid down in law.

"We believe it is really important that we see a maintenance of public trust in politics, in public life and that we ensure there is accountabliity and scrutiny of behaviours and ethical standard in public life."

Aontú leader and TD for Meath West Peadar Tóibín said he agrees with Deputy Bacik and that there needs to be "high ethics" in politics.

He said the Taoiseach had "bounced" the issue back to Meath County Council and he understands the council is not going to investigate it.

He said it is a "big" issue as so many people nationwide are looking for planning permission with many refused.

"We need to find out what councils are doing in terms of this...I would find it hard to understand that Meath County Council did not know what the property situation was with an elected representative who was making an application."

Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said Mr English resigned as minister and since he is a representative for the people of Meath it is up to them to make decisions about his future.

"It is always the voters that decide. Always."