Minister of State for Overseas Development Conor Lenihan returned to the Dáil less than two hours after he made his remark that "Deputy Higgins should stick with the kebabs" to make a personal apology.
"I regret the remarks made," he said. "I apologise sincerely if any offence was taken from the remarks I made. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am apologising to the House as early as possible, given the interpretation that may be put on those remarks."
Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Bernard Allen said the Minister should "think before he talks, especially on sensitive matters, but having said that I don't think he should resign".
Green Party foreign affairs spokesman John Gormley welcomed the apology and accepted it was unwise as opposed to racist.
"I believe that he has made a few faux pas and he'll have to wise up if he's to do his job properly," Mr Gormley said.
Siptu official Eric Fleming called on Mr Lenihan to meet the Gama workers to explain his comments, and said he should resign if he refused to meet them.
Labour chief whip Emmet Stagg claimed Mr Lenihan's apology was insufficient, and he had failed to notify the whips before coming in to the Dáil to make the apology, which would be normal in the circumstances.
There were some angry reactions to Mr Lenihan's remarks among Ireland's Turkish community. "I am very disappointed, angry and upset for myself and my community," said one Turkish-born Irish citizen, originally from Ankara, but living in Dublin for 25 years. "Irish people over the years have got upset, and rightly so, when they were called Paddies and Micks, especially in England. Now we find people here referring to us like a piece of meat. It is offensive," he said.
Cumali Aydin (20) from Adana, southern Turkey, and who is working in Dublin, said it would not be appropriate language for anyone to use but it was even worse for a politician to say in parliament.
"It is not very nice to compare Turks to kebabs. I am quite offended by this. I would not like anyone to say that to me, let alone a Government politician," he said.
"I feel bad for the Gama employees too," said another man, not directly connected with the workers. "The Gama workers feel let down by the Irish Government and now this. It is like pouring salt on their wounds."