Tánaiste backs own chief of staff in dispute with Robert Watt on Holohan secondment

Robert Watt, who was highly involved in arranging the secondment, claimed Deirdre Gillane had been informed of the details of the appointment.

When asked whether he believed Mr Watt or Ms Gillane, the Tánaiste said: "In respect of the chief of staff in my office, Deirdre Gillane, obviously I think her presentation cannot be questioned, of course I believe what she said."

The Tánaiste believes his own chief of staff in a dispute with the Department of Health's top civil servant on the botched Dr Tony Holohan secondment.

Micheál Martin has sided with his most senior adviser, Deirdre Gillane, who rejected an account provided by Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt to an independent investigation into Dr Holohan's abandoned Trinity College role.