Minister for Health Simon Harris has described comments by Junior Health Minister Finian McGrath on the HPV vaccine as unfortunate, ill-judged and not based on fact.
Mr Harris said he was very disappointed and frustrated at the remarks.
However, Mr Harris said that Mr McGrath had set about correcting the record and he has every confidence in his ability to do his work in the Department of Health.
Earlier, Mr McGrath said he wanted to make it clear that he is unequivocally supporting the Government’s policy on the HPV vaccine.
He said he will contact the Irish Cancer Society to inform them that he is fully behind a campaign to increase the uptake of the Gardasil vaccine.
Last week, the Health Service Executive launched a campaign aimed at encouraging parents to have their daughters vaccinated to help prevent cervical cancer.
Uptake of the vaccine is currently at an all-time low, having dropped from 90% to 50% last year.
The drop follows claims that a number of girls have suffered serious side effects from the injection.
Yesterday, the Irish Cancer Society said that Mr McGrath’s clarification on the issue did not go far enough after he said he would continue to raise concerns about the vaccine.
When in opposition the Independent Alliance Minister had called for the vaccine to be withdrawn.
Yesterday, he confirmed that he spoke to Health Minister Simon Harris and he strongly supports Mr Harris' position that parents should follow medical advice.
But he added that as an Independent member of the Oireachtas, it is his duty to challenge decisions and there is nothing wrong with him raising concerns that parents asked him to raise.
Meanwhile, Minster for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone has defended the stance taken by Mr McGrath on the HPV vaccine.
Speaking in Athlone, Ms Zappone said Mr McGrath had made it clear he now supports the Government’s policy on the use of the vaccine but was entitled to express the concerns of some parents who are opposed to the vaccine.
She described the row over Mr McGrath's comments on the vaccine as "part of the difficulties that sometimes arise between the Independents and Fine Gael in Government."
Minister of State for the OPW Kevin 'Boxer' Moran also defended his Independent Alliance colleague, and said Mr McGrath has cleared it up and will support the policy of the Department of Health on the use of the vaccine.
