Former Fianna Fáil minister Pat Carey has stepped down as the party's director of elections but "absolutely and unconditionally denies any impropriety" following sex abuse allegations against a politician.

Saying he was “deeply upset” at being contacted by journalists, Mr Carey said he “does not know if the allegations mentioned in the national press relate to him”.

Mr Carey, a TD for Dublin North West from 1997 to 2011, released a statement through his solicitors in which he said he is stepping down as a member of the party.

The statement said Mr Carey instructed his solicitors “in relation to the rumour and innuendo surrounding a newspaper article published yesterday entitled ‘Former Minister investigated by gardaí over child abuse claims’ ”.

He is also to resign from a number of community and voluntary organisations, including as chairman of the Irish Red Cross, to allow “any investigations take place”.

Gardaí­ are investigating sexual abuse allegations made against a former politician. It is understood a female complainant came forward in recent months and alleged the suspect behaved inappropriately towards her and sexually abused her when she was a child more than 20 years ago.

It is understood other complainants have since come forward.

He issued the statement and resigned various positions “of his own volition and with a heavy heart” because of the “unfounded speculation”.

The statement read: “He absolutely and unconditionally denies any impropriety in this matter or in his 30 years experience as a teacher, as a community worker and in his public life.”

“He was distraught to first learn of these matters on the front page of a national newspaper. He is also concerned at comments allegedly attributed to the gardaí in media articles in the past 24 hours.

“Mr Carey is a respected person and entitled to his good name.

“However, in order to allow the good work of the organisations that he is involved in to continue without controversy or distraction, he will step aside from all such roles to allow any investigation to take place.

“This includes his role as chairman and member of many community and church-related organisations. He will also step down from his role as director of elections for Fianna Fáil and as a member of the Fianna Fáil party.

“Mr Carey does not know if the allegations mentioned in the national press relate to him, but given the unfounded speculation that has arisen, he is taking this action of his own volition and with a heavy heart.

“Mr Carey will not be making any other public statement and the matter will be dealt with through his solicitors.”

A spokesman for Fianna Fáil said: “We have received confirmation of Pat Carey’s decision to step aside from his role as director of elections and as a member of Fianna Fáil.

“He has outlined his reasons for this in his own statement released through his solicitors. An announcement on his replacement as director of elections will be made in due course.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin declined to comment until he had seen the detail of Mr Carey’s statement.

Mr Carey (68) came out as a gay man before the same sex marriage referendum and was a prominent “Yes” campaigner.

The statement also said he “has no knowledge of the actual complaints allegedly made”.