Fianna Fáil's spokesperson for Communications says he deleted a tweet about the Taoiseach because it was being hijacked by others.

Timmy Dooley's tweet said the standoff between Ireland and Britain over Brexit showed the Taoiseach's 'failure to engage in basic diplomacy over the last two years.'

Deputy Dooley also denies he was told to delete the tweet by party leader, Micheál Martin.

Timmy Dooley's now deleted tweet criticising Leo Varadkar.

He says he fully supports the backstop and his comments were taken out of context.

He admits the tweet ‘might have been somewhat ill-timed and a little harsh.”