Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson has told RTÉ News he intends to publicly defend his position after last night’s BBC Spotlight programme.
He said he was shocked by some of the elements of that programme and that he learned things about his wife's affair and some of the financial arrangements.
He denied he breached the obligations of his office by not disclosing the financial arrangements.
Mr Robinson also said he had never seen the text messages disclosed in the programme, which indicate his wife’s affair might have gone on for longer than he was led to believe.
The BBC programme made a number of serious allegations about Iris Robinson.
Among the claims was that Mrs Robinson got £50,000 from two Belfast property developers and gave the money to a then 19-year-old man, Kirk McCambley, and asked him for £5,000 back in cash.
She and Mr McCambley were having an affair and he was starting a business.
Two weeks ago Mrs Robinson said she was retiring from politics because of an ongoing battle with mental illness.
On Wednesday, her husband told how he learned last March that she had been having an affair and afterwards she had attempted to take her own life.
The programme claimed that Mrs Robinson's husband became aware of the transactions and that he pressed his wife to return the money.
It suggested Mrs Robinson broke the law and that her husband also breached Northern Ireland's ministerial code by failing to tell the relevant authorities what he knew.
The BBC had three main sources for the programme: an advisor who worked for Mrs Robinson; text messages she sent him; and the now 21-year-old with whom she had a relationship.
Mrs Robinson has resigned from public life. These claims may put pressure on her husband.
Peter Robinson to get legal advice
Mr Robinson has said he will be contacting his lawyers about the broadcast.
In a statement this morning he said: 'I completely reject BBC Spotlight's attempt to implicate me by insinuation and innuendo.
'I am even more appalled by the inclusion on that programme of comments and conclusions made without any supporting facts - indeed with facts in the programme which support a contrary position.
Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has reacted saying: 'I was shocked at the financial revelations made in last night's Spotlight programme.
'I have sought an urgent meeting with the First Minister to discuss the implications for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.'
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the position of Mr Robinson as First Minister was questionable.
He also believed that Mrs Robinson should resign from her public offices because of the nature of the issues raised in the programme.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey said it was clear Mrs Robinson's continuing position as an MP, MLA and Councillor was utterly untenable.
He said she should resign all her positions with immediate effect.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that he is 'very, very sympathetic to the plight that the Robinson family have found themselves in'.
He went on to say that there 'may be consequences' to the offices of the first and deputy ministers.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Mr Adams said: 'Martin McGuinness has asked a departmental solicitor for a legal opinion.'
Mr Adams confirmed that Sinn Féin has temporarily postponed the Ard Comhairle meeting due to take place tomorrow because he said serious matters are on the agenda and the bad weather meant that full attendance could not be guaranteed.
