The Taoiseach has defended his decision to appoint a Gaeltacht minister who cannot speak fluent Irish.

He says Joe McHugh 'has the language inside him' and that he will take a refresher course to make sure his Irish is up to standard.

Opposition leaders have accused the Taoiseach of insulting Gaeltacht residents by appointing a minister who cannot speak their native language.

But Enda Kenny says Minister McHugh and his new boss will do whatever they can to improve their standard of the language.

It comes after the senior minister in the department - Heather Humphreys - does not speak Irish either.

Mr. McHugh - who is from outside the Gaeltacht area - took his first questions in the Dáil this morning and addressed the issue of his ability to speak Irish.

But a Fianna Fail TD says the new minister cannot communicate with his target audience.

Éamon Ó Cuív says it is worrying that the Minister may be unable to take part in media discussions and debates as Gaeilge.