A Fine Gael TD tonight expressed regret for a car accident which left a man in hospital with severe injuries.
Mr Billy Timmins, the party's agriculture spokesman, was driving home from the Dáil at around 11.00 p.m. last night when he hit a pedestrian on the Blessington Road in Tallaght.
"I was involved in an unfortunate accident, through no fault of my own, whereby a pedestrian was hit," he said in a statement. "I'm deeply upset and sorry that this has happened, and I hope the injured person makes a full and speedy recovery."
Mr Timmins stopped his Mercedes car after the accident, which occurred close to the Jobstown Inn, and called the gardaí and the ambulance services.
The 34-year-old man was taken to hospital with severe injuries.
Gardai confirmed an accident had taken place at the location but declined to comment on the case.
Tallaght Hospital confirmed they were treating a patient as a result of the accident.