The Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett, is to make a statement in the Dáil chamber this afternoon - in a last-ditch bid to save his job.

Deputy Barrett is expected to offer a qualified withdrawal of his remarks from last week when he agreed with a claim that opposition parties of being "out to undermine him, to get him".

The news comes after Fianna Fáil TDs discussed the prospect of a motion of no confidence in Barrett this lunchtime. 

Sean Barrett has spoken to both Micheal Martin and the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams today - but neither party has backed down from its demands that Barrett withdraw his controversial claims.

In a statement yesterday, the Ceann Comhairle said Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are entitled to question his decisions - but maintained that his decision to rule out a debate on the inquiry into alleged Garda malpractice was correct.

Barrett is now due to speak to the Dáil at 3:15pm, before Leaders' Questions - in what is likely to be his only opportunity to quench the opposition anger about his comments.

Earlier, our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: