The DUP has dismissed Ulster Unionist charges of hypocrisy over a meeting in Dublin between a DUP delegation, led by the Rev Ian Paisley, and senior business people last week.
The meeting and dinner took place on Tuesday of last week, one week into the general election campaign.
Michael McGimpsey told a news conference yesterday at UUP headquarters that the DUP was two-faced by calling loudly for the Taoiseach "to keep his interfering hands off Ulster's internal affairs," while forging its own cross-Border links.
"What I would love to know from Dr Paisley is why . . . a private jet was sent to the City Airport, a jet owned by one of the richest men in the Irish Republic, and flew the DUP hierarchy to a secret dinner in Dublin," said Mr McGimpsey, the party's South Belfast candidate.
"That dinner took place in one of the most exclusive clubs in Dublin, the Lords' Club, at College Green, and at that meeting were a number of bankers, financiers and big business interests.
"What I want to know, and I think what the average DUP voter is entitled to know, is who was at the meeting and what was being discussed at that secret meeting."
The function took place in the former House of Lords chamber in the Bank of Ireland building in College Green.
North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds said: "The DUP is exceedingly thankful to the Ulster Unionist Party for helping disseminate information about the hard work the DUP's elected representatives do in seeking to bring jobs and investment to Northern Ireland. As for David Trimble, who suggests that there is some contradiction between opposition to Dublin interference in Northern Ireland affairs and support for commercial investment, we now know the extent of his lack of judgment and can see why he is such a failed politician."
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said the dinner was hosted in a room adorned with tapestries of the Battle of the Boyne and the Siege of Derry and so was appropriate.
The SDLP's West Belfast candidate, Alex Attwood, said: "What nationalists want to know is if the DUP are going to sign up to the SDLP's proposals for radically expanding the North-South agenda. Unlike Sinn Féin, who did not get a single extra area for North-South co-operation from the DUP in their failed deal last December, the SDLP will not let the DUP off the hook."