Tanaiste Joan Burton has defended her party's chief whip, who has told voters he opposes cuts to welfare payments for single parents.

An email has emerged showing how Emmet Stagg told a constituent he was unhappy with the changes to the One Parent Family Allowance, saying that he doesn't not see how the cuts would help those affected out of the poverty trap.

"I don't blame you for withdrawing support for the party," it read. Fianna Fáil TD Colm Keaveney accused Stagg of 'duplicity.'

The payment was cut last week leaving around 6,000 single parents worse off - with Deputy Stagg's role to make sure that Labour TDs voted in favour of the change.

But Joan Burton's told the Dáil that her whip is fully on board with the proposals and supports them completely: