In fact, the junior minister said nothing.

He was to appear on TV3’s Ireland AM yesterday to debate the Government’s decision to donate €1m for relief in Louisiana.

GOAL’s John O’Shea appeared on the programme to criticise the decision. Mr Lenihan was due to take a call at 7am in his bedroom at the hotel in Ballyconnell, where Fianna Fáil was holding its parliamentary party meeting.

The junior minister with responsibility for overseas aid was to defend the decision.

Having established contact with Mr Lenihan, the presenters turned to Mr O’Shea to air his views. But when they checked if Mr Lenihan was still on his line, there was silence.

The junior minister had apparently fallen asleep and efforts to rouse him on the telephone were unsuccessful. The programme went to an advertising break.

Questioned by journalists later yesterday, a clearly embarrassed Mr Lenihan admitted he had been up late the night before and had slept through the interview.