The Taoiseach has said no politician is above the law, as opposition parties criticised Minister Barry Cowen over his 2016 drink driving ban.
In his first Leaders' Questions, Micheál Martin said he hasn't wasted an hour of work in the last week, despite the political distractions in his party.
Minister Barry Cowen is due to make a statement to the Dáil later this evening, although though some opposition TDs are unhappy they won't be allowed to question him.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected criticism his party hasn't had its eyes on the real problems over the last week.
He said: "No politician is above the law, and no politician should be above the law.
"In respect of Minister Cowen, you will note that punishment was meted out in respect of his transgression four years ago."
Meanwhile, RISE TD Paul Murphy said the Agriculture Minister needs to do more than make a statement:
He argued: "It's not acceptable for us that he would be able to give a statement, and there wouldn't be opportunity for questions from the opposition and answers from the minister.
"It became the precedent, really, in the last Dáil on numerous different occasions.
"[There] are numerous questions outstanding in relation to the offence itself."
Meanwhile, Micheál Martin denied his party has returned to "cute hoor politics" after taking office again.
The accusation was made by the Labour leader Alan Kelly, who said the new Taoiseach has had the shortest honeymoon period in history.
Deputy Kelly said: "You do come from old Fianna Fáil politics - but based on the Government's first week... it hasn't been a good week.
"The modus operandi looks like it's back to an old style of cute hoor politics."
