The Dáil today heard allegations that a Government minister admitted taking cocaine.
Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney raised the issue with the Taoiseach during the Order of Business but Bertie Ahern did not reply.
Fine Gael TD, Simon Coveney
Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue advised Mr Coveney to raise the matter during a special crime debate in the Dáil this afternoon.
The allegation is contained in a new book, The High Society: Drugs and the Irish Middle Class, written by journalist Justine Delaney Wilson.
The Cork TD asked if the Taoiseach was going to question his Cabinet about the allegations that a Government minister admitted taking cocaine.
He said: "It's the Taoiseach's responsibility to take responsibility for his Government ministers. "Has he called his ministers into a meeting and asked them if the allegations are true?"
The Fine Gael TD then referred to quotes from the book, published last week by Gill and Macmillan, in which a government minister allegedly admits to being a regular cocaine user.
He said: "A Government Minister was quoted as saying 'Yes I do take drugs. Just coke on a regular basis and I'm certainly not the only one around here who does."'
Mr Coveney again asked the Taoiseach if he had asked his Cabinet about these allegations but his question was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle.
PA