A member of Cabinet has stepped in to defend the Sports Minister for sharing the limelight with World Champion boxer Katie Taylor on her return to Ireland.

Minister Shane Ross went viral for following the Bray native around Dublin Airport as she was being photographed by the waiting press on Tuesday.

There were huge crowds awaiting 32-year-old after she touched down as the undisputed four-belt world champion in the lightweight division.

The undisputed lightweight champion of the world Katie Taylor with the Minister for Sport Shane Ross as she arrives home at Dublin Airport, 04-06-2019. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

It wasn’t long until attention turned to Minister Ross’s performance however – with the internet awash with memes poking fun at his new-found love for boxing.

On The Hard Shoulder with Ivan Yates this evening, the Minister of State for Disability Issues Finian McGrath said people are being too hard on Minister Ross.

Questioning what would have happened if he had failed to personally welcome her home, he said: “It is his duty to be there with the sports stars because he is Minister for Sport and I think that is the sensible thing to do.”

The undisputed lightweight champion of the world Katie Taylor with the Minister for Sport Shane Ross as she arrives home at Dublin Airport, 04-06-2019. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

He admitted that “we all had a bit of a giggle and a laugh about some of the things going up on social media” but added, “I think you want to calm down a bit.”

“Previous Taoisigh and ministers have done that for years – we jokingly call it getting in the donut shop,” he said.

“That is part of the thing.

“I think people are taking it a bit too seriously.

“The bottom line here is an Irishwoman won a world championship – and good luck to Katie Taylor.”

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of Bray tomorrow to welcome Taylor home.

The event gets underway at 6:30pm.