It has been claimed that Independent TD Michael Healy Rae won a reality TV show four years ago after over 3,600 votes were cast from a single phone in the Dáil.

The Kerry deputy, son of retired TD Jackie Healy Rae, won the 'Celebrities Go Wild' programme on RTE in 2007.

He beat off competition from a celebrity cast that included the late model Katy French and Rose of Tralee host Daithi O'Sé.

According to a report in today's Daily Mail, 3,636 votes were cast from a single phone in Leinster House at a cost of over €2,500.

The Oireachtas has confirmed they were notified of a spike in calls to a '1513' number - and as a result, calls to the number were blocked.

Deputy Healy-Rae this morning denied any knowledge of who was behind the calls.