"As soon as I was elected Taoiseach, I knew who was Taoiseach."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended accidentally referring to Leo Varadkar as the "Taoiseach" multiple times.
During Virgin Media's The Big Interview, the Taoiseach described the incidents as a "slip of the tongue", adding that there were no issues surrounding who was in charge.
"As soon as I was elected Taoiseach I knew who was Taoiseach - we were under no illusions about that," he said.
"You know yourself, a journalist can make a slip of the tongue very easily, that's all that is, I wouldn't read any significance into that whatsoever."
Martin also spoke about his professional and personal relationship with the Tánaiste, saying that while they are "different people" they have developed a "very strong" Cabinet Committee structure.
"We're different people in many respects. Generationally, we're a bit different, I'm older and that. But, that being said, we're very practical," he continued.
"On a personal level, we get on quite well, and we have the capacity to contact each other if we feel there's something going wrong, or if we feel there's something going right.
"So it's a good relationship and it's a positive, and constructive relationship."
The Big Interview will air tonight on Virgin Media One at 9pm.
