SINN Féin's Eoin Ó Broin last night said his party colleague Brian Stanley was "guilty of colossal errors of judgement" following two controversial social media posts.
Mr Ó Broin said he recognised the tweets had caused "a lot of hurt", but described Mr Stanley as a "fine politician and a good public representative".
It also emerged Mr Stanley, Public Accounts Committee chairman, is to make a statement to the Dáil about the tweets on December 15.
The controversy began when Mr Stanley tweeted linking the Kilmichael Ambush in Co Cork during the War of Independence in which 17 British soldiers were killed with the Narrow Water bombings by the Provisional IRA at Warrenpoint, in Co Down in 1979, in which 18 British soldiers were killed.
He said last week he was "genuinely sorry" and that his "tweet fell below the standards, not just of what we expect from each other, but also what I expect from myself as a member of the Dáil".
But he insisted he had "no apology to make" over a 2017 tweet he sent that appeared to comment on the sexuality of Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.
Mr Ó Broin told RTÉ: "What he is guilty of is colossal errors of judgment pertaining to both tweets.
"It was insensitive and poor judgment, he caused a lot of hurt with both of them and the right thing for Brian to do is reflect on all of that.
"Given he has been accused of some pretty appalling things, it has been a difficult week for him and I think offering to come to the Dail and make a full detailed statement is the right thing to do."
