Independent TD Michael Lowry reportedly tried to lobby the Taoiseach to re-appoint his former press advisor to a State board.

In a note, seen by the Sunday Independent, Mr Lowry asked the Taoiseach to consider re-appointing Valerie O'Reilly to the board of the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In it, Mr Lowry described Ms O'Reilly as "A woman, bright, intelligent & not bad looking either!".

The note was passed to Enda Kenny in the Dail chamber last Wednesday.

It was later picked up in the Dail from the government benches after Mr Kenny left the chamber.

Ms O'Reilly was appointed to the NTA board in 2010 by then Transport Minister Noel Dempsey.