Paschal Donohoe will address the Dáil at 4pm today amid ongoing controversy over his election posters. 

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has claimed he was only recently informed that €1,100 had been paid to workers who put up his election posters in 2016.

He has since amended his submission to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) and acknowledged what he describes as a “clear mistake”. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, former Minister for Transport Shane Ross said it would be "absurd" for Minister Donohoe to resign over such a small amount of money.

"Of course he should adhere to the rules," Mr Ross said.

"And of course there should be some sort of penalty for a TD who doesn't adhere to these rules - that's why they're there.

"But it would be absolutely absurd if it's as minor as it appears to be - which is a sin of omission... It would be absurd to be looking for his head when he's such a pivotal figure in the Government."

Yesterday, Fine Gael’s Michael Ring gave an impassioned defence of the Dublin Central TD. 

“I’m saying here today, loud and clear, I fully support Paschal Donohoe,” Deputy Ring told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I don’t believe that he should be hounded out of office - because he has been a fantastic minister and I don’t think anybody should lose their job over a few posters going up on a pole.” 

G8W12A Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, (left) and Michael Ring arrive at Leinster House, Dublin, as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hold parliamentary party meetings ahead of continuing talks between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on forming a government.

Last week, Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin said that “his story lies in tatters”.

“I think it is quite telling that the minister hasn’t answered very basic questions,” he told Newstalk Brekfast.

“So like, the very simple question I have asked him now seven times, is did Michael Stone not only pay for the election posters to be erected in 2016 but did he pay for his election posters to be erected in 2020.

“Why is the minister refusing to answer that?”

Minister Donohoe moved to the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform last month in the small reshuffle carried out when Leo Varadkar became Taoiseach again. 

He previously served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport under Enda Kenny and became Minister for Finance in 2017. 

In 2020, Minister Donohoe was elected President of the Eurogroup - an informal group for the Finance Ministers of eurozone countries.

Main image: Budget 2022 Press Conference with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD. Image: Julien Behal