TDs were left bewildered today when the word “amazeballs” was entered into the Dáil record by Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

Unfortunately the Sinn Féin deputy pronounced the term “amazey-balls” when using it during a debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013.

“It doesn’t I don’t think get the full balance right. It’s certainly not amazey-balls, I think is the new term in the southside, it’s not brilliant,” he said tripping over the new word during the debate.

“Amazey-balls so there you go, that’s a new term for you,” he said looking around at the handful of deputies in the chamber.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton joked "sorry we're all northsiders". "It's not on the west side where I live," he said.

Then Ms Burton spotted Fine Gael TD Olivia Mitchell and said "Olivia might have heard it she's from the southside". But a confused Deputy Mitchell asked if it was " a new craze". "It's a new terminology for fantastic or brilliant," Mr Ó Snodaigh elaborated .

Chairman Bernard Durkan then saw it was time to intervene in the hefty debate raging in the lower house. " The rest of us might like to understand what's going on as well. The terminology is no known to us," he said. "It's fantastic," Ó Snodaigh clarified.

Mr Ó Snodaigh suggested deputies could “ have a discussion on that another time”.