Fine Gael's justice, equality and law reform spokesman, Mr John Deasy, has apologised to his party leader after he voted with the Government on an Immigration Bill.
Mr Enda Kenny summoned the frontbencher to a meeting this morning to discuss the issue, which led to speculation he might be dropped from the shadow cabinet.
Mr Deasy had supported the Government in spite of party policy to oppose the fact that the Report Stage of the Immigration Bill was being rushed through before the Dáil rose for the summer recess today.
Fine Gael had argued Government was using "the guillotine" and not providing sufficient time to debate more than ten pages of amendments.
But he apologised this afternoon for voting against the whip.
"I have today tendered my sincere apologies . . . for the embarrassment my vote in the Dáil caused yesterday," Mr Deasy said in a statement. "I regret how the events of yesterday occurred and have pledged to continue to work diligently with my Oireachtas colleagues in the interests of Fine Gael".
Mr Deasy maintained last night that he was not aware of party policy before the vote.
"This is not a matter of policy difference," Mr Kenny said yesterday. "Fine Gael had not objected to the principle of this piece of legislation but we had tabled a number of amendments to its provisions".
Fine Gael's Chief Whip Mr Bernard Durkan, said he would be meeting the parliamentary party before the next session to reiterate the guidelines on voting procedures in the Dáil.The Dáil rises today and will not sit again until September 30th.