Cowen criticised for swear word

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Irish prime minister Brian Cowen has apologised after DÃ¡il microphones picked up remarks in which he used the F word.

The taoiseach made the slip after a heated exchange between his party and members of the opposition.

A government spokesman said the word was used in a casual exchange between working colleagues and was not a reference to any member of the house.

The spokesman denied Fine Gael claims that Mr Cowen had "lost it".

He said the microphones confirmed that what had been picked up was a private exchange that was not on the DÃ¡il record.