Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he got it wrong when he said in the Dáil earlier this week that Sinn Féin had access to a pre-recorded interview for RTÉ Radio with Shane Ross about his book on Mary Lou McDonald.
Last week, RTÉ Radio decided not to air an interview with the former minister for transport about his biography on Ms McDonald, which had been recorded for Today with Claire Byrne.
During a debate in the Dáil, Mr Martin told the Dáil that "such a development has a chilling effect on public debate and on democracy, of that there is no doubt".
He also said that he understood that "a political party got access to the interview to listen to it".
However, speaking on Newstalk, he said: "I got that wrong in terms of the access. I said apparently."
Mr Martin said the key point he was making is that when "political parties, when people start suing the national broadcaster it does have a chilling effect".
"It is a bit hard to look at the Shane Ross saga in isolation and to say there is no connection between that and the fact that RTÉ is being sued and there is a defamation case against them. It does have a chilling effect on media and broadcasters."
He accused Sinn Féin of seeking to shut down debate on legitimate issues.
"This is a co-ordinated strategy by Sinn Féin across the board," he said.
"Sinn Féin can attack other political parties about appointments and so on like that but if you attack Sinn Féin about appointments in Northern Ireland you will get a solicitor's letter. Or you will get letters left, right and centre.
"There can't be one rule for Sinn Féin and different rules for everybody else."
No malice in football song
The Taoiseach also said he does not believe any malice was intended by members of the Republic of Ireland team after footage emerged of members singing a pro-IRA song in the aftermath of their World Cup qualification on Tuesday night.
"These things can happen. What really has struck me is the speed and totality of the apology," Mr Martin said.
