Minister of State Mr Willie O'Dea apologised in the Dáil this morning for comments he made yesterday referring to TV3 journalist Ms Maura Derrane.
Minister of State Mr Willie O'Dea, apologised for the comment today
Mr O'Dea made the comments during the course of an exchange of minor insults in the Dáil chamber yesterday when he remarked to the Fine Gael crime spokesman Mr John Deasy: "Perhaps he will get his girlfriend to interview him again on RTÉ3".
TV3's director of news, Mr Andrew Hanlon, wrote to the Ceann Comhairle and said the comments suggested "favouritism and bias".
In his apology to the Dáil this morning, Mr O'Dea said no reflection was intended on the professionalism and integrity of Ms Derrane or TV3.
Mr Deasy is engaged to Ms Derrane, who interviewed him along with the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell in a recent TV3 news report.
Mr O'Dea also apologised to RTÉ for suggesting they had three television channels.