Updated 23.08pm

RTÉ’S SIX ONE News presenter Bryan Dobson has said that he “never meant to cause offence” when he referred to to protestors as “idiots” during a live interview last night.

Dobson was interviewing economist Ronan Lyons about property prices but cut him short as he was answering a question as protestors against bondholder payments came into view behind him.

“We’ll I’ll tell you what Ronan, I am going to stop that there because the idiots behind you are a bit of distraction so we’ll try and get rid of those and come back to you,” Dobson said.

YouTube: exteriority

His comments sparked considerable controversy on Twitter today with calls for him to apologise for the remarks.

In a statement issued through RTÉ this evening, Dobson said: “I never meant to cause offence with my remarks last night which were in reference to the interruption of an interview during a live broadcast rather than the topic of any protest.”

MORE: Here’s what Ronan Lyons really thought of protesters on the Six One

Previously: Did you see Dobbo calling protesters “idiots” on the news last night?

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