Minister for Justice Michael McDowell today accused former minister Jim McDaid of creating a bad example following the TD's admission of drink-driving.
Mr McDowell claimed Dr McDaid's 20-minute trip the wrong way along the Naas Road, endangering hundreds of motorists, was a bad reflection on politics.
"Jim McDaid is not the first member of Dáil Éireann to have found himself in these circumstances and if you look across the benches of the house it's not unprecedented, it has not led to a resignation in the past," Mr McDowell said.
"But I think it is a matter of huge importance that the public be given an example by those in politics, an example of obeying the law. Other deputies have found themselves in similar situations in the past and I think the public now is much less tolerant of this kind of behaviour."
A local haulier who blocked the TD's path after tailing him for 10 miles along one of the country's busiest roads recalled seeing the former minister drive the wrong way around the Newhall roundabout just off the N7 near Newbridge.
He said Dr McDaid made several attempts to stop before continuing to drive the wrong way up the main road.
The lorry driver said he then followed Dr McDaid on the opposite side of the carriageway in a bid to warn the oncoming traffic of the dangers. "I just kept flashing my lights to warn them that there was something coming against them," he said.
After phoning gardaí to alert them of the danger, the haulier told RTÉ Radio he chased the doctor for a further three miles.
"After going off that roundabout and going in the wrong direction he drove for approximately another three miles, it was very erratic," he said.
The haulier said he was driving at around 30kmph as he approached another roundabout, where he steered the articulated lorry around the roundabout and used the 46-foot trailer to block the TD's path.
The lorry driver said: "I jumped out of the cab, ran around and opened the door. The man in question was sitting there. I put my hand on the keys and took the key out of the ignition."
Gardaí confirmed yesterday the Donegal TD had been arrested several miles from Naas on suspicion of drink-driving at around 10.30pm on Tuesday.
PA