A second TD has admitted to drink-driving while a learner, following the Barry Cowen revelations.
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on mental health Pat Buckley was handed down a three-year driving ban back in 2013, when he was caught drink-driving.
The party's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin told Breakfast Briefing: "Driving under the influence of alcohol is completely unacceptable, it doesn't matter what political party the person belongs to.
"In Pat's particular case, he was given a three-year ban, he apologised profusely at the time [and] he's spoken about the shame it has brought on him and his family."
He said the fact that he was on a leaner's licence "might not have been in the national newspapers, but it was something that would have been known at the time."
"It's also important to acknowledge that Pat has never returned to driving since then, he has never sought a licence and has never driven a car".
"But let me be very clear, because there are people listening to your show who have lost loved ones at the hands of drivers under the influence, it is not acceptable to drink and drive.
"Politicians of all people should lead by example.
"And in Pat's case he held his hands up, he was found guilty, he had a three-year ban - and like I say, he's never returned to driving since."
Earlier this week, Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen described it as a "stupid, stupid mistake", after he was stopped and breathalysed in 2016.
After being found to be over the legal alcohol limit, he was given a €200 fine and a three-month driving ban.
He held a learner drivers' permit at the time as his previous provisional licence had lapsed.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described his statement as a 'clear abject apology'.
