Taoiseach rejects comparison between Conor McGregor and election candidate John McGahon

When it was put to Mr Harris on Monday that both men were found civilly liable of assault, he responded: "I'm actually struggling to dignify that with an answer."

"I think it is difficult to in any way, shape, or form, equate the utter, utter, utter disgust and brutality that Nikita Hand suffered," Mr Harris said.

He said Mr McGahon was rightly punished by having to pay €39,000 to Mr White as directed by the High Court jury.

Images following the incident outside a pub in Co Louth in 2018 showed Mr White with bruising to his face.

Mr Harris said Mr McGahon's behaviour was "utterly inappropriate" and said he was on the ballot this Friday but emphasised there was a second Fine Gael candidate running in the constituency.

"It is up to the people to decide who they wish to back in Louth on Friday but I do hope the people of Louth will give Fine Gael a voice in Louth in the next government," he said.

Mr Harris has not canvassed in Mr McGahon's constituency and was unable to give a clear answer on whether he would visit the county in the coming days.

"I truthfully don't know but I could well be," Mr Harris said, "I absolutely hope to be."

The Taoiseach has previously said it is one of his campaign aims to visit all 43 constituencies.

"I haven't finished my travelling around the country," he said, adding he would be out canvassing until the polls close at 10pm on Friday.

Meanwhile Mr Harris was also asked about the now viral clip in Kanturk with care worker Charlotte Fallon who claimed the Government had done nothing for those working in the disability sector. When asked whether any members of his team contacted RTÉ about not airing the footage of the conversation for which Mr Harris has been criticised and has since apologised, Mr Harris said: "I don't believe so."

However, it is understood a member of Mr Harris's team did contact RTÉ prior to the clip being aired and provided it with budget provisions relating to section 39 workers and carers.

When the Irish Examiner sought further clarification, a Fine Gael spokesperson referred back to the Taoiseach's comments while RTÉ said it had no comment.

It was also put to Mr Harris that Hildegarde Naughton was vocal in asking Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to publicly answer questions on controversies relating to former members of her party and yet Ms Naughton herself has not answered questions regarding former Fine Gael councillor Patsy O'Brien.

Mr O'Brien was expelled from the party after sending inappropriate messages to a staff member and there have been reports Ms Naughton campaigned with him after this came to light.

Mr Harris denied Ms Naughton was being allowed to hold a "vow of silence" on the matter.

He emphasised the wish of the complainant to remain anonymous, while calling Mr O'Brien's actions deplorable.

"He was rightly booted out of the Fine Gael party. Due process was followed. He was immediately suspended," the party leader said.

Fine Gael's recent drop in the polls was played down by Mr Harris, who said the party experienced a similar dip at around the same time in the 2020 campaign but this was not reflected in the vote.

"As I travel across the country, people are hurting. The cost-of-living crisis is real and people are, quite rightly, making people work for their vote," he said.

Mr Harris said it was clear it is a "three-horse race" but said too many people had tried to predict the outcome of Irish elections and invariably all got it wrong.