The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has accused Micheál Martin of striking “a low blow” with his claims that Hogan had altered the boundaries for local elections in an attempt to engineer political gain.

Martin claimed Hogan is guilty of gerrymandering and the Environment Minister insists the Fianna Fail leader is displaying desperation with his accusations.

“It demonstrates that Micheál Martin is not doing too well politically when he has to play the man and not the ball,” Hogan said to KCLR.

Hogan went on to say that Martin needs to apologise as he has effectively accused the Independent Commission of “political corruption”.

“We had an independent boundary commission, [Micheál Martin is] effectively accusing the membership of this commission of political corruption, which is a very low blow for those honourable people that have done a good job for local government in drawing up new boundaries for the first time in many, many years.”

Image: Phil Hogan Credit: Photocall Ireland/ Mark Stedman