The Taoiseach should have dismissed the Fianna Fáil director of elections for the Nice Treaty, Mr PJ Mara, rather than leave the decision to Mr Mara himself, according to former taoiseach, Mr John Bruton.
Reacting to the news that Mr Mara stepped down from his post earlier today, Mr Bruton said it was the Taoiseach's responsibility to take the initiative once the contents of the Flood report were publicised.
Mr Mara resigned this morning saying that the referendum was fundamental to the future of both Ireland and Europe and that he was determined to ensure that nothing relating to him could be used in an attempt to damage the chance of a successful campaign.
"Why was it left to PJ Mara to make this decision?," Mr Bruton asked.
"Why didn't Bertie Ahern ask him to resign? Was it not clear from the content of report that it was the Taoiseach's responsibility to take the initiative as the person who had appointed PJ Mara in the first place?"
He added: "We should not forget that Bertie Ahern did not take the initiative to ask Ray Burke to resign as Minister either. He left it to Ray Burke to make the decision himself."
Labour deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin said the the resignation of P.J. Mara as Director of Elections for the Fianna Fail referendum campaign was as inevitable as it was necessary.
"Mr. Justice Flood not only found that Mr. Mara failed to cooperate with the Tribunal, but also rejected his evidence in regard to a number of matters," he said.
"His position was clearly untenable, and Mr. Mara's continued presence as Director of Elections for Fianna Fail would have tarnished the Nice campaign.
"However, this episode has, once again, illustrated the lack of political backbone on the part of the Taoiseach. Once again when faced with a difficult decision - what to do in regard to a key aide who had been criticised by a Tribunal of Inquiry established by the Dail - he ran for cover."
Meanwhile, SIPTU said only prosecutions and convictions would overcome public cynicism towards the politic establishment.
According to Mr Noel Dowling, National Industrial Secretary, SIPTU, "the acid test of our democratic institutions" would be the extent to which those who have been named are held to account in the courts. "Investigations are all very well - and even the revelations contained in the Flood report are welcome," he said.
"The Gardai interviewed Ray Burke as far back as 1974 but no prosecutions followed.
"Similarly, despite the succession of investigations carried out under the Beef Tribunal, McCracken Tribunal, the Moriarty Tribunal, and the Flood Tribunal, as well as the report of the inspectors appointed to examine Ansbacher accounts, as yet no prosecutions have resulted except for Liam Lawlor's brief sojourns in Mountjoy for contempt.
"Equally, if the interim report of the Flood tribunal had not stolen the headlines today, far more attention would now be focused on the shocking revelations contained in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which highlights the blatant evasion of tax by a number of business figures and the apparent inability of the Revenue Commissioners to prevent this."