The Junior Minister for Sports says he is human and makes mistakes.

It comes after comments he made yesterday seemed to indicate he would prefer if government money was invested in sport rather than health.

He was speaking as the Team Ireland Olympians arrived back at Dublin Airport.

Deputy Ring now says what he was trying to say was that sports funding needs to be protected in an environment where health needs are so great and will undoubtedly take priority.

Junior Sports Minister Michael Ring says he was hurt by the negative publicity.

He spoke with Lunchtime here on Newstalk.