Former tánaiste and Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney has made an official complaint to the Ceann Comhairle after she was named in the Dáil by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett told the Dáil that Ms Harney’s complaint, made in writing, would be dealt with next week by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed in the Dáil that Ms Harney shut down an inquiry in her department because it linked her predecessor Dessie O’Malley to tax evasion.

Ms McDonald claimed Mr O’Malley held an Ansbacher account along with former Fianna Fáil ministers Máire Geoghegan Quinn, Ray MacSharry and Gerry Collins. She also claimed former Fine Gael minister for finance Richie Ryan held such an offshore, illegal account.

All those named have denied ever having such an account and Ms Harney said she was never influenced at any stage by any of the names mentioned in the investigation into the accounts.

The issue was raised in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who asked how it was proposed to deal with such issues, when names were mentioned in the House in this way, breaching parliamentary procedures.