Shane Coleman has suggested that "we are losing the run of ourselves" regarding the Ryan Tubridy pay scandal.
The Newstalk Breakfast host added that he is beginning to feel "conflicted" about the RTE payment story which continues to dominate headlines.
Coleman’s comments came after RTÉ released a statement on Tuesday, pointing the finger at former Director General Dee Forbes.
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Ms Forbes will not attend today’s Oireachtas Media Committee on health grounds.
On Tuesday evening, the Dáil’s spending watchdog was informed that Ms Forbes would not be attending today’s hearing, despite being one of 18 people summoned to appear before it to answer questions in relation to undeclared payments to Ryan Tubridy.
Coleman continued: "I'm starting to feel a little bit conflicted about this story.
"Listening to TDs calling for people to be arrested by the Gardaí and so on.
"I always get nervous when there's a hysteria around a story, and I think there's now a bit of hysteria around this.
"I'm not in any way justifying what happened - what happened is wrong - and I understand people are really disappointed and angry.
"I just wonder are we losing the run of ourselves a little bit?"
Coleman also said he has sympathy for Ryan Tubridy even though the RTE star made an error.
"I'm also going to say it: I do feel sorry for Ryan Tubridy," he added.
"He made a catastrophic error of judgement, there is absolutely no doubt about that.
"Does he deserve to be a public pariah? I'm not convinced he does.
"On a personal level, I do feel sorry for him."
