The Taoiseach says if the Mairia Cahill allegations were made about Fine Gael he would not last five minutes as leader.

Enda Kenny and Gerry Adams have clashed in the Dáil this evening over Mairia Cahill's claim that Sinn Féin covered up her rape by an IRA figure when she was just 16.

Ms Cahill is due to meet with the Taoiseach tomorrow morning.

Enda Kenny has suggested the Oireachtas Justice Committee could hold hearings and call witnesses, and he told the Sinn Féin President that he did not believe he should still be leader of the party:

Last week, Mairia Cahill claimed she had to face her alleged sexual abuser in a republican-style court conducted by the IRA, and has made a series of allegations about how her case was dealt with by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, which he has denied.

Ms Cahill, who met with First Minister Peter Robinson, claimed that she met with Adams on several occasions and had discussed her rape. She also alleged that Mr Adams knew the identity of her rapist.

Adams on the other hand has denied he spoke with Ms Cahill about the abuse and reaffirmed that he has never been a member of the IRA.