Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, the TD for Meath East said he smiled when he heard broadcaster, journalist and barrister Brenda Power, say that nobody would have a problem if the wording was slightly different, and asked if she “ever supported a referendum?” [11:20]

When Ms Power said yes, she had supported the last two, Minister Byrne contradicted her and told her, “You didn’t support the abortion referendum”.

She replied, “I absolutely did, 100%. How dare you come in here so ill-informed”.

He then pressed her on whether she supported “the marriage equality referendum”, and again she replied, “I did, 100%, and if you want to look at my columns on it, . . . go back and check it out”.

She added: “This is exactly the misinformation that we’re getting from the ‘Yes’ side that anyone who disagrees with them are right-wing, conservative, God-botherers. That is absolutely disgraceful”.