Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has "deplored" recent comments from DUP MLA Gregory Campbell about the Irish language.
He was responding to a question from Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith about the implementation of the Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland.
Mr Flanagan said: "I regret that the principle as enshrined was not demonstrated in the recent comments of Mr Gregory Campbell of the DUP.
"I wish to deplore what were most unhelpful comments on a matter of importance.
"I recognise that his comments were deeply hurtful to many people across the island, that our language should be denigrated in such a way."
Mr Campbell was earlier this month barred from addressing the Assembly for a day after failing to apologise for his controversial remarks.
A row erupted when he began an address to the chamber with: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coal yer."
The sentence "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" translates as "thank you, Speaker" and is used by nationalist MLAs in the chamber.
Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said the DUP MLA had shown "pure ignorance".
She made an official complaint to the Northern Ireland Assembly's speaker's office and Sinn Féin referred Mr Campbell's remarks to Northern Ireland's Human Rights Commission and Equality Commission, claiming they bordered on being racist.
Mr Campbell said he had raised the issue because he believed Sinn Féin used the Irish language for political reasons.
US envoy to return next week
Retired US senator Gary Hart, who was recently appointed a US envoy to Northern Ireland, is to return to Belfast next week for the political negotiations.
Mr Flanagan and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers were involved in discussions with the five main Stormont parties today.
The language rows involving Mr Campbell and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams have featured heavily at Stormont this week.
There is also a new controversy following a BBC investigation into the expenses claims made by some Assembly members.
December is the deadline for the completion of the current negotiations.
The most difficult questions will be held over until Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British Prime Minister David Cameron get involved, which may be at least a fortnight away.
