Waterford TD David Cullinane is defending using the phrase 'Up the Ra' in a victory speech to supporters on Sunday night.
The Sinn Féin deputy retained his seat in the election, topping the poll in Waterford with over 20,000 votes.
A video has emerged of him shouting 'Up the Ra' and 'Tiochfaidh ár Lá' at a celebration event in a Waterford City pub.
At a press conference last night he said his comments were about the past.
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane explains his comments at a celebration last night where he said “up the Ra” #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/tpOxf3mQ3o
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 10, 2020
"My comments were about the past, they're not about the future."
He said: "The IRA is gone, as everybody knows and I celebrate that the same as anybody else, and we have a very successful peace process.
"I don't feel I have to apologise for reflecting back on that time period, what I'm saying is I'm putting context on the comments that I made.
"I in no way meant that this was about the here or the now or the future.
"I was reflecting back on what was a very emotive time for Republicans and as someone who stood in a constituency where a hunger striker previously stood in, in the context of a long campaign, a long day and a long night I think that's the context in which the comments were made
He added: "I think most people will see that, I certainly don't set out to offend anyone."
