Fine Gael Dublin North East TD Terence Flanagan has admitted he plagiarised a speech made by Labour deputy leader Joan Burton during a Dáil speech this month.
His declaration came 24 hours after he had told the Irish Independent that he had "not nicked" sections of a speech made on the Finance Bill from the Labour deputy leader.
Unavailable for comment, Mr Flanagan said, in a statement issued through the Fine Gael press office: ""During a 1,500 word speech over 10 minutes on the second stage of the Finance Bill I drew on some elements of Deputy Burton's speech from the previous evening. I should have acknowledged that at the time and regret not doing so. As a new deputy I hope I haven't caused any offence and will certainly learn from this experience."
Mr Flanagan did not respond to calls made to his mobile telephone last evening.
Deputy Burton said "that flattery is the highest form of praise".
