A row has erupted between Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Rehab over remarks he made in the Dail about the organisation's finances.

Rehab has called on the Minister to withdraw remarks made yesterday about the funds received by Rehab Lotteries.

An audit by the Department of Justice of funds received by Rehab Lotteries shows that its scratch card sales of almost €4 million resulted in a profit of around €9,400.

In a statement, Rehab said it was surprised Mr Shatter made comments on matters which were subject of ongoing legal actions, and asked him to withdraw the remarks and apologise.

Minister Shatter said he was ending the Charitable Lottery Scheme, where charities are compensated for losing their ability to raise funds since the National Lottery's introduction in 1987.

Rehab's Chief Executive Angela Kerins recently refused to reveal what her current pay level is.

Public scrutiny of the charity sector is expected to intensify in the coming weeks following the revelations over substantial retirement payments made to CRC chief Paul Kiely from a fundraising charity.

The Rehab group an independent international group of charities and commercial companies which provides training, employment, health and social care, and commercial services for over 80,000 people each year in Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, the Netherlands and Poland.