The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the decision by Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey to drop her compensation claim against a Dublin hotel is a matter for her alone.

Deputy Bailey brought a personal injury claim after she claimed she fell from a swing in the hotel's restaurant in 2015.

According to the Irish Independent, Ms Bailey decided to withdraw the case because it is 'a distraction from her political work'.

The Dún Laoghaire TD is currently chair of Oirechtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Mr Varadkar has said he plans to discuss the matter with her shortly.

"I think in the first instance it is a private matter for her.

"It's an incident that occurred before she was even elected to the Dáil, and isn't something that the party has been involved in.

"But I haven't had a chance to talk to her yet, but I'm sure I will next week".

A number of politicians criticised Ms Bailey for the case and how it compares to the Government's insurance cases crackdown.

Speaking on Saturday, Culture Minister Josepha Madigan refused to be drawn on the issue.

She said: "I think that's a matter for Maria Bailey - I'm not going to comment on an individual case.

"I think it's a matter for herself.

"I think you have to remember that this case is pending in whichever court - I don't know because I'm not in the firm any longer.

"I don't even know the status of it, and even if i did I'm not going to comment on that either - it's a confidential matter".

Main image: Maria Bailey, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, speaking to the media after a Housing Summit in 2018 | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie