Waterford TD David Cullinane has weighed in on the Shane Ross / Mary Lou McDonald book controversy, saying he had never agreed to speak with the former Minister for Sport on the unauthorised book on the Sinn Fein leader.

On Deise Today yesterday, Mr. Ross claimed that Sinn Fein TDs who had previously agreed to speak with him on his book 'Mary Lou McDonald: A Republican Riddle' - suddenly dropped out one by one.

Mary Lou McDonald: A Republican Riddle hit bookshelves earlier this week, despite Deputy McDonald declining to speak to Ross as part of it.

"I would never have written an official biography anyway, but had she cooperated, it would have been a different book," he said.

Deputy Cullinane gave his version of events on Deise Today this morning.

"I didn't engage with the book for all the right reasons from my perspective. Shane Ross was always going to write the book that he did. In my view, he is a political opponent of Sinn Fein - and has been for a long number of years. I would imagine that if I decided to write a book about Leo Varadkar, I doubt that John Cummins or any other members of Fine Gael would sit down and engage with me on that book. I won't be reading the book."

Meanwhile, The Taoiseach says he'll correct the Dáil record over claims he made about an RTÉ interview with Shane Ross.

Micheál Martin suggested Sinn Féin had been given a copy of the pre-recorded tape before a decision was made not to run the item - something RTÉ denies.

Martin also alleged the decision to pull the interview was influenced by a separate legal case Mary Lou McDonald is taking against RTÉ.

To hear the full interview with Deputy David Cullinane on the matter, click the play button on the photo above.