Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today sought to defuse the row over the resignation of rebel backbencher Ned O'Keeffe.
The Cork East TD dramatically resigned from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party last night before a vote of no confidence in Health Minister Mary Harney was taken in the Dail.
A Fianna Fail veteran, he broke ranks earlier this week when he called for Ms Harney's resignation over the breast cancer crisis, but Mr Ahern today expressed hopes of bringing him back into the party fold.
"Ned O'Keeffe is a good friend of mine and has been for 25 years," said Mr Ahern. "I have huge time for Ned O'Keeffe, for his constituency organisation and for his family.
"They are very good people. Ned O'Keeffe, no more than myself, is ingrained in the traditions of Fianna Fail.
"So obviously we're always disappointed when anybody resigns the whip of the party but these issues will be hopefully looked at another day and I'm sure the day will come when Ned O'Keeffe will be back in the party."
Mr O'Keeffe sent a one line letter to Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt declaring his resignation.
The Dail veteran last night supported the Government in preventing the Labour no confidence motion but he abstained on the vote on the Government's amended motion.
Last night Mr Kitt said he regretted that Mr O'Keeffe felt he needed to resign.