Newstalk issued a statement saying: "Newstalk has confirmed that George Hook has been suspended from his duties at the station. The process regarding his comments last week is ongoing."

Hook's comments, about a rape case in the UK, led to widespread condemnation, with senior journalists refusing to go on Newstalk, TDs urging a boycott of the station, and huge advertisers - including Tescos - withdrawing their contracts.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he strongly disagreed with Hook's comments on RTE Morning Ireland, although he also said that he thinks "he does understand that what he said was unacceptable."