Cork South Central Fine Gael deputy Simon Coveney today said he had no regrets over his decision to back Richard Bruton against party leader, Enda Kenny but admitted that he doesn't expect to be included in Mr Kenny's new frontbench.
"I don't (have any regrets). As long as I make decisions on the basis of what's right for the people who elect me, then I'm comfortable with that but I also respect the fact that I don't have any monopoly on wisdom or integrity here," said Mr Coveney.
"I don't expect to be in favour this week when he (Mr Kenny) is putting his frontbench together but I am certainly not going to betray the party by actually refusing to work with a leader that has now had his leadership reaffirmed," he added.
Speaking on The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's 96FM in response to a caller who accused him of being disingenuous in backing Mr Bruton, after first calling for party unity, Mr Coveney defended his decision and said that he had been true to his principles throughout.
"I have maintained that I have tried to be as upfront and honest as I could be through this whole process. Bluntly, what happened was the deputy leader of a political party challenged the leader of a political party. They are two very good men.
"People like me and others were forced to make a choice as to which person we would back. I made that choice on the basis of what I thought the public would want me to support and on the basis of trying to equip my party as best I could for change and transforming politics.
"I have been totally consistent and upfront on that but I also said that whatever my political party chose to do on Thursday through a democratic vote that I would respect that decision and I do ..... I haven't done any U turn."
"After the vote, people could see that I was disappointed but I also made it clear that I respect the democratic decision of my party and they have chosen now to go forward with Enda as leader and he has a very strong mandate to take the party forward," he said.
Mr Coveney said he didn't believe the challenge to Mr Kenny's leadership by Mr Bruton and his supporters would do irreparable damage to Fine Gael and he would continue to work with Mr Kenny for the betterment of the party and the country.
Mr Kenny has said he wants his former deputy to return to the party's front bench, although Mr Kenny has declined to say what role he was considering for his former finance spokesman, whom he sacked last Monday after he failed to express confidence in his leader.
Several senior figures in the party said yesterday that Mr Bruton would not be offered the finance post. Former leader Michael Noonan, a certainty to return to the front bench, is now seen as the favourite to take on that portfolio. He and Mr Kenny have spoken about the matter since last Thursday’s meeting.
Mr Kenny was interviewed over the weekend from his home in Castlebar, Co Mayo, by RTÉ's The Week in Politics.
When asked did he want Mr Bruton on his front bench, he replied: “Yes”. When pressed over what position, he said: “I will not comment on any individual appointments.It’s only fair to everybody. If they feel they have a contribution to make to a new front bench for Fine Gael I’ll consider all of those opportunities.”
This morning, Brian Hayes, one of the supporters of Mr Bruton's challenge, said he would reflect on whether or not he would serve on Fine Gael's front bench in the future. Mr Hayes said it was Mr Kenny's call and that he did not expect to be selected by Mr Kenny given the events of last week.
Mr Hayes acknowledged Mr Kenny's tactics were better in the leadership challenge but that he did not doubt that he had done the right thing.
Mr Hayes said suggestions the coup had been planned for months were incorrect.
Senior TDs in the party, including Mr Noonan, have said that including Mr Bruton in the frontbench team of 19 would help heal divisions caused by last week’s events.
Mr Bruton has made no public comments about his own intentions following his unsuccessful leadership challenge. He was unavailable for comment yesterday.
A Fine Gael spokesman said Mr Kenny would begin contacting colleagues to discuss his frontbench appointments tomorrow. He is leading a Fine Gael delegation to Belfast today.
A number of Mr Kenny’s supporters expressed the view yesterday that only three, or possibly four, of the 11 frontbench TDs who expressed no confidence in Mr Kenny would be readmitted to the team.
There were mixed views among different supporters.
Besides Mr Bruton, the Dublin West TD Leo Varadkar is seen as the most likely to be invited back, notwithstanding his comments last week that he would not serve on the front bench with Mr Kenny as leader.
When contacted, Mr Varadkar left open the possibility of a return: “I am thinking a lot about what I want to do and my future. I would be happy to talk to Enda Kenny if he still wishes to talk to me.”
Other “dissenters” who were mentioned as being in line for a possible reprieve were Olwyn Enright, Fergus O’Dowd, Charlie Flanagan, and Mr Hayes.
There was a consensus among Mr Kenny’s supporters, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, that four at most of the dissenters, including Mr Bruton, would be invited back into the fold.
On that basis it is probable that Mr Kenny will fire Billy Timmins, Denis Naughten, Simon Coveney, Olivia Mitchell, Michael Creed and at least two others.
Paul Kehoe has indicated to Mr Kenny that he wishes to remain as the party whip, but may be promoted if Fine Gael return to government. His good relationship with the backbench TDs and Senators was seen as instrumental in Mr Kenny’s campaign.
Phil Hogan and Dr James Reilly are seen as the favourites for the deputy leader position, while Alan Shatter is being mentioned for the justice post.