Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae has apologised for comments he made about climate change.
However, he has stopped short of saying his views on climate change had shifted, and continues to disagree with Green candidate Cleo Murphy about the cause of a landslide in Kenmare.
During an interview with Virgin Radio, Mr Healy Rae said: "to hell with the planet.
"Work for the people and stay with the people and to hell with the planet and the fellas that say we must save the planet and forget about the people."
He apologised today and withdrew the remark.
He said: "Obviously we must care for the planet, but we must be fair to the people in it.
"I apologise sincerely for the comments I made and again I say I withdraw that remark, because we must care for the planet but we must mind and care for the people in it as well."
Yesterday, Cleo Murphy told Mr Healy Rae the ground was going from under him in climate change when the road home to Kilgarvan and Kenmare was impassable after a landslide, which occurred during Storm Ciara yesterday.
"The whole place is flooded and you are saying to hell with the planet!" Ms Murphy told him.
Danny Healy Rae was earlier re-elected to the Dáil, he received 13,000 votes and reached the quota on the sixth count.
