Tanaiste Leo Varadkar labelled Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall as a "hypocrite" during a tense exchange during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil on Thursday afternoon.
With Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the UK to meet new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the first time, the Fine Gael leader was in his place to take questions from TDs.
But during the session, he was involved in a clash with Ms Shortall in relation to the decision of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) on Wednesday evening.
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It said that it will not be investigating Mr Varadkar over the leaking of a proposed GP contract to a rival union in 2019, which Ms Shortall noted would have the Tánaiste feeling "relieved" and that it was "good news for him"
However, she asked: "Are you satisfied that SIPO is sufficiently empowered to investigate the decisions of Taoiseach when necessary?"
Mr Varadkar noted that he "committed no crime" and that three bodies had investigated him and he had not breached any act or code of conduct- calling Ms Shortall's failure to acknowledge that 'petty'
He then responded by referring to a previous radio interview back in January in which Ms Shortall had said it wouldn't be appropriate for him to become Taoiseach while still under investigation.
"That's fine, that's your view and you are entitled to that view. Does that view extend to Sinn Féin? If it is the case that any Sinn Fein politician is under investigation by a public body when the next election comes, will you apply the same standard to them? Will you say that the Social Democrats will not allow such a person to serve in Cabinet or do you have a different standard to them?"
Ms Shortall replied by saying that they were discussing Fine Gael and that they should "talk about Fine Gael's role, let's keep the focus there" and asking him whether he was satisfied with SIPO's authority.
Mr Varadkar noted his "disappointment" that Ms Shortall had not answered his question about Sinn Féin, and said: "The Social Democratic party is a party of the left. It has lower standards for people who are on the left. What she said on the radio was that I shouldn't serve in Government just because I was under investigation, even though I have subsequently been cleared.
""Why will the Social Democrats not apply the same standards for Sinn Féin? And I do hope that when you're doing future interviews, journalists will press you on this matter."
There then followed off-mic comments from Ms Shortall, which Mr Varadkar responded angrily to by saying "Because you're a hypocrite Róisín."
Ms Shortall could then be heard asking Mr Varadkar whether he would say the same thing "outside of this house".
Mr Varadkar responded: "Just like Sinn Féin, you sue your opponents now? That's the latest thing."
Leas-Ceann Comhairle Deputy Catherine Connolly urged Mr Varadkar to withdraw the 'hypocrite' comment, which he did - noting that he wanted to replace it with the phrase "purveyor of double standards"
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