Footage has emerged of Independent TD Michael Collins calling Shane Ross one of the "biggest scumbags" in politics.
Speaking at a post-election rally, the Cork South-West TD said he was happy that the outgoing Minister was now "on the scrap heap of Irish politics" after failing to be re-elected in the General Election.
"I said I would do everything I could to take that man down because he ruined rural Ireland and tonight the great people of Dublin took him out of it," Collins told supporters at the rally.
Mr Collins has since apologised for calling him a "scumbag" but said that he would not apologise for highlighting what has happened to rural Ireland.
Speaking to RTE's Sean O'Rourke said: "I probably was tired... I met people at the door who were absolutely furious and there's no other word in Cork south west with the way the previous government had carried on with so many terrible decisions that were made against the people of rural Ireland.
"I give an apology for that word but I certainly don't give an apology for what has happened to rural Ireland and for me to stand up on behalf of those people."
When asked if he accepted the apology, Mr Ross said: "Of course I do... There's no way that I could do anything else."
The pair frequently clashed over drink-driving legislation, with the Cork TD opposed to legislation imposed by the then Transport Minister.
Collins accused Ross in 2017 of turning law abiding citizens into criminals with legislation to impose an automatic ban on anyone caught over the legal alcohol limit on the roads, Cork Beo reports.
He said at the time that people in rural areas who collect their pension "might like to have a pint or two, but they are petrified to do so".
Collins was elected on the first count in the Cork South-West constituency last weekend.
