Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr John Deasy, has questioned his party leadership's decision not to make him a member of the Dáil and Seanad justice committee.
The Waterford TD said it was "pretty silly" that he was not a member of the committee for which he had the portfolio.
"I've always wondered why I'm not on the committee and why I wasn't given any assistance as spokesman."
Mr Deasy is the only Fine Gael front-bencher who does not have a deputy or junior spokesperson. He was appointed to the justice portfolio 18 months ago.
Fine Gael has insisted that Mr Deasy is an "alternate member" and sits on the committee when justice issues are debated, while the party's defence spokesman, Mr Dinny McGinley, a listed committee member, attends for defence issues. Mr Paul McGrath, the party's deputy finance spokesman, is the vice-chairman of the committee, known as the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
The party says the committee deals with three or four issues and there were not enough TDs to serve on all the committees.
Crime is by far the most frequently discussed issue on the committee and justice is one of the busiest portfolios in terms of legislation going through the Dáil.
A spokesman said it was not an embarrassment for the party that its justice spokesman was not on the justice committee, but the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, taunted the party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, during a Dáil crime debate on Tuesday. He said he hoped Mr Kenny "will finally appoint Deputy Deasy as a full member". He added: "It is about time they settled their little tiff."
The spokesman said, however, that this was an issue of no significance to most people. What was important was Government policy and Government's failure to act on crime.
Mr Deasy himself would only say that "McDowell and others have used it to needle Fine Gael. It won't stop me doing my job."
The justice committee will shortly begin eight days of hearings on crime, talking to the various interested parties. Mr Deasy said he would attend the committee hearings, which are to be televised live on TG4.
Fine Gael insists there is no "tiff" and Mr Kenny said in the Dáil that he and Mr Deasy "do not disagree on matters of policy".
Mr Deasy has drawn up a new policy document for the party, which includes a provision for mandatory sentencing of repeat public order offenders.
