Taoiseach backs Health Minister Stephen Donnelly after it emerged he failed to register tenancy for three years

"The minister has explained his oversight in renewing a long term tenancy with the RTB in 2019, and that his member’s interests have been declared in full every year during that period," a spokesperson for Mr Martin said on Wednesday.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has also expressed confidence in the Fianna Fáil minister.

And a spokesperson for Leo Varadkar said the Tánaiste “has confidence” in Mr Donnelly.

“This is a long-term tenancy which was previously registered and has been fully declared every year on his Register of Interests,” he said.

The Labour party has said Mr Donnelly should face questions from TDs in the Dáil explaining how such a "significant" oversight happened.

“At a time when we are seeing rapidly rising rents, record levels of homelessness and Housing for All failing, this is a significant oversight from the Minister," said a party spokesperson.

“It’s very concerning that there is such a cavalier attitude about the rights of renters at the heart of government. Minister Donnelly should make a statement in the Dail when it returns outlining how such a major oversight happened.

"Government must now commit to passing Labours renters rights bill.”

Mr Donnelly said he only moved to register the property after his ministerial colleague Robert Troy caught up in controversy over his property interests.

Mr Troy resigned last week after days of revelations, one of which detailed that he also did not register a property on time with the RTB.

The Irish Times reported Mr Donnelly's property in Sandyford was due to be registered with the RTB in 2019, however, “due to an oversight”, it was only registered last week.

“The minister has a property with a long-standing tenancy,” said a spokesperson for the minister.

“That tenancy was registered and renewed with the RTB on a number of occasions (2011 and 2015) and is currently registered.

“Due to an oversight, the tenancy registration was not renewed in 2019 when it should have been.

“The RTB indicated that this should be backdated online, which was done last week.

“The minister’s interests have been fully declared every year on the Dáil register of members’ interests.”

The Irish Independent previously reported a rental property owned by Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke was not registered with the RTB.

Mr Guirke has four rental properties across the country – two in Co Longford, a house in Co Meath and a property in Co Galway.

Mr Guirke said this property was managed by a letting agency that had taken on responsibility for registration with the RTB and the registration had lapsed and was not renewed due to an oversight by the letting agent.

“As soon as I became aware of this, I immediately rectified this and the property is registered again with the RTB,” he said.

“I take my responsibilities very seriously and regret that this error occurred.”

Responding to news of Mr Donnelly's unregistered tenancy, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane said: "All politicians need to take their responsibilities in declaring interests seriously.

"It is vital that the highest level of transparency exists in politics and ministers need to lead from the front."