Michael Collins demands Pippa Hackett apologise for describing him as an organic farmer

Mr Collins, who has previously stated in the Dáil that he is "proud to be organic", also suggested that the Green Party senator could only have obtained the information from her husband who inspected his farm.

"You are using that private information from the Organic Trust to point the finger at me," he said.

It is understood that the Organic Trust sent an email to members this morning assuring them that their details are never shared with others and are also considering writing to the Ceann Comhairle about the matter.

Mr Collins has now demanded a retraction from Ms Hackett and told the Irish Examiner that being accused of being an organic farmer could have implications in relation to his Sipo (Standards in Public Office) returns.

He said: "I have to submit my whole finances to Sipo, prove to them what my exact income is and we have to be so bloody careful today, that statement yesterday makes me look as if I'm deriving income [from organic farming]."

Mr Collins confirmed that his son now runs the family farm.

He said he would not be commenting on his accusations about Ms Hackett's husband until he receives a clarification from her.

In a letter to the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Collins said: "I was an organic farmer, this is untrue, while I was once an organic farmer when her husband inspected my farm, where this information could have been obtained, the facts now are I am no longer an organic farmer and I must insist she corrects the record of the Dáil immediately."

Responding to Mr Collins, Minister Hackett said that she, too, would be writing to the Ceann Comhairle and said that she believed that the rural independents had been "very personal" with her.

“I will be writing to Deputy Collins and the Ceann Comhairle seeking a withdrawal of Deputy Collins’ comments yesterday in relation to my husband and the organisation he works for. 

"Deputy Collins has spoken at least four times on record about being an organic farmer - it is public knowledge. His antics in the Dáil yesterday, followed his colleague, Deputy Danny Healy Rae, who took issue with me being a Minister at all. 

"I seem to elicit a very personal response from them quite often in the chamber and it’s very unpleasant. But if you look at what I was saying yesterday, I was pointing to the fantastic work farmers up and down this country are doing to secure a sustainable future. 

"I won’t be shouted down by a group of men. I’ll continue to fight for farmers, for nature, for biodiversity and for rural Ireland.“