Paschal Donohoe has given a 'credible explanation' for his failure to declare services donated to him during the 2016 election, according to his party colleague Simon Coveney.

The Enterprise Minister said the Standards In Public Office Commission (SIPO) should now be allowed to carry out an investigation into the matter.

It has emerged Minister Donohoe failed to declare services worth more than €1,100 provided to him during the 2016 election.

As a result, he is now being investigated by SIPO - a body he has responsibility for in his ministerial portfolio.

He has recused himself from any meetings or discussions on ethics or the ethics watchdog during the investigation.

Minister Donohoe also admitted that he became aware of this oversight in 2017 and failed to correct the record.

'He explained that'

Minister Coveney told Newstalk Breakfast he believes his colleague's explanation.

"I think Paschal gave a very detailed explanation as to what happened on Sunday," he said.

"Let's not forget, this is about the General Election in 2016, when his constituency in Dublin Central was offered assistance to put up and take down posters for Paschal Donohoe.

"Neither the constituency nor Paschal paid for those services and weren't aware of the cost of them at the time.

"I think he explained that in some detail - of course now he wants to let SIPO to do their job, and I'm sure Paschal will be more than willing to answer any further questions that people have."

'He made a mistake'

Minister Coveney said a mistake was made.

"There wasn't any payment made by the party or him for those services; it was only when he started to look in detail, and obviously ask questions as to who paid for what and so on, that he established the numbers," he said.

"He's apologised and said that he'd like to have done this earlier and he's corrected the record fully.

"He's done what he can in that regard, but he's also accepted that he made a mistake here."

Paschal Donohoe is seen in January 2019. Picture by: Peter Cavanagh / Alamy Stock Photo

The Enterprise Minister said we should now wait for the outcome of the SIPO investigation.

"The important thing is that he's fully corrected the record now, we have an investigation into what's happened to provide clarity from SIPO," he said.

"I think we should allow that take its course.

"We are tal‌king about trying to put the value on what the use of a commercial van, for a certain number of hours, would have been.

"The value that's been put on that, I think, now is €140 back in 2016 - and he's now put that as part of a declaration that's been corrected.

"I think we do need to have some context here as well.

"This was a mistake, he's put his hand up on that and he's given I think a credible explanation in terms of what's happened and he's corrected the record," he added.