Senator Aodhán O'Riordáin made an impassioned speech to the Seanad on Thursday criticising the Irish government's reaction to Donald Trump being elected as the president of the United States.

During the speech, he said: "America has just elected a fascist and the best thing that the good people in Ireland can do is to ring him up and ask him, is it OK to still bring the shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day?

"I am embarrassed by the reaction of the Irish government to what has happened in America. I can't believe the reaction from An Taoiseach and from the government."

"I don't use the term fascist lightly. What else would you call someone who threatens to imprison his political opponents. What else would you call somebody who threatens to not allow people of a certain political faith into their country. What would you say, or what would you call somebody who was threatening to report 10 million people."

Mr O'Riordáin's criticism extended beyond the Taoiseach, adding: "I am appalled that a member of this house - a female member of this house - went on social media to congratulate this man."

Senator O'Riordáin went on to praise Germany's response to Trump's election win, also stating that the international community are at a crossroads, asking when the Irish government will have the "moral courage to speak in terms other than economy all the time and realise what is happening."

He finished his speech by requesting the Minister of Foreign Affairs to come into the Seanad and explain "how we are supposed to deal with this monster that has just been elected president of America?"

Online Editors