The Labour Party leader today withdrew remarks he made in the Dáil yesterday about the Minister for Transport and his relationship to Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary.
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In a heated exchange regarding a leaked Government memo on Aer Rianta, Mr Brennan asked Mr Pat Rabbitte where he had got the confidential document.
Mr Rabbitte said: "Never mind where I got the memo. If the Minister wants to know where I got the memo, I might ask him questions about what he got from Michael O'Leary."
To which Mr Brennan replied: "I got nothing from Michael O'Leary, I hope Deputy Rabbitte is not claiming that I did."
Today Mr Rabbitte said he wished to withdraw his remarks as his comments could have been interpreted in a way in which he had not intended. He said: "I referred interrogatively to Minister Brennan in a manner of words that has a construction capable of being put on them which I did not intend."
However, he said he believed the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport was dictating the events surrounding the break-up of Aer Rianta.
The Department of Transport today confirmed an internal inquiry was underway to find the source of the leaked document.
The leak, which revealed the Minister for Finance argued the drawing up of legislation for the break-up of Aer Rianta was premature, may result in a criminal investigation.
