Fine Gael TD John Deasy has said that Enda Kenny should be challenged for the party leadership if he fails to get the party into government following the general election later this year.
Speaking on Waterford local radio, Mr Deasy also said that he would be interested in the job of Fine Gael leader, although he said he would be supporting Mr Kenny until the next general election.
Mr Deasy's comments prompted a sharp reaction from Fine Gael headquarters in Dublin. A spokesman said that Mr Deasy's best contribution to the party would be to get a second TD elected for Fine Gael in the constituency.
Mr Deasy made the comments when he was asked about support for Mr Kenny in the wake of an unsuccessful election.
He said: "It's clear that everyone in the parliamentary party, everyone in Fine Gael, will support Enda Kenny up to the next general election without question, unconditional. I think that if we do not get into government, and even if it's a narrow failure, that in my mind would constitute a total failure.
"I think there should be a challenge and there will be a challenge. Personally speaking if we don't get into government this time round I think someone else should actually challenge."
Asked if he would be interested in the party leadership, Mr Deasy said: "Yes, I would be and before I say anything else I want to make that clear that's no challenge or anything like that, but we need to be clear that we will support Enda Kenny until the next general election."
A Fine Gael spokesman responded that Fine Gael was enjoying its highest level of support in 20 years.
"We are very confident of winning the next general election with our partners in Labour," he said. "The key to that success is to bring in as many running mates as possible, and the best contribution John Deasy can make towards winning the next election is to help a second Fine Gael TD get elected in Waterford."
Mr Deasy has had a sometimes tense relationship with party leader Enda Kenny, who sacked him from the front bench of Fine Gael as justice spokesman in April 2004 after he breached the smoking ban by lighting a cigarette in the Dáil bar.