The sitting of the Seanad was adjourned briefly after Mr Michael Finucane (FG) repeatedly called on Mr Terry Leyden (FF) to apologise over remarks he had made recently about reporting by RTÉ's health correspondent, Aileen O'Meara.
Mr Finucane said he was very surprised that an attack had been made in the House on a person outside of it. In accordance with long-standing principles, he believed that Mr Leyden should apologise.
The Cathaoirleach, Mr Ruairí Kiely, said the matter raised by Mr Finucane was not relevant to the ordering of the business of the House.
Mr Finucane said: "If the senator has reservations about Roscommon hospital, he should not shoot the messenger. He should take it up with the minister.
"The senator should apologise to the House if our code of conduct means anything at all."
Mr David Norris (Ind) said: "Name and shame."
When the Cathaoirleach told Mr Finucane that the issue he was raising was not relevant, Mr Finucane insisted that it was.
Following persistent calls by Mr Finucane for an apology, Mr Kiely said he was adjourning the House for 10 minutes.