Ireland's European Commissioner is describing as a "non-story" a report that he has had to pay back some expenses paid to him as a TD.

The Sunday Times revealed yesterday that Phil Hogan was re-paying a portion of the €14,000 he received between leaving the Cabinet last July.

Mr Hogan was a TD for Carlow-Kilkenny until he was formally appointed Agriculture Commissioner on November 1st.

He did not meet the attendance requirements from July to October to receive the full payment.

Speaking in Kildare this morning, Commissioner Hogan said it was not a mistake.