Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley will address the Dáil on December 15th about his controversial tweets.
It comes as the Taoiseach has said a tweet referencing Leo Varadkar in 2017 displayed an inference of homophobia about it.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald met Deputy Stanley this afternoon and told him to spend next week at home with his family.
Following that he’s requested to make a personal statement to the Dáil on the 15th of December.
It follows a tweet about two attacks during the War of Independence and The Troubles which killed 35 British soldiers.
A second tweet unearthed from three years ago referencing Leo Varadkar around the time he became Taoiseach said “yipee for the tory it’s leo. you can do what you like in bed but don’t look for a pay rise in the morning”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin criticised it:
”I think it has exacerbated the situation. I don’t quite understand his explanation in relation to that particular tweet, but it clearly had homophobic inferences, that’s not just my perspective, its the perspective of many people.”
Mr Stanley rejected any suggestion of homophobic undertones saying his record on LGBT rights stands for itself. He has since deleted his Twitter account.
Brian Stanley is facing calls to step down as chair of the powerful Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, with the Taoiseach saying his presence is bringing the credibility of the committee under question.
