Fianna Fáil TDs who signed the original letter calling for the establishment of a powerful backbench committee have denied claims that they were outmanoeuvred by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern over their proposals.
At a parliamentary party meeting of Fianna Fáil on Tuesday night,TDs and Senators voted unanimously for alternative proposals outlined by Mr Ahern.
A meeting scheduled for yesterday between the Taoiseach and four of the 16 TDs who signed the letter was cancelled.
Ministers will instead hold four meetings with backbenchers next month on economic and social issues, agriculture and rural development and "quality of life" concerns.
Reports from these meetings will be forwarded to the parliamentary party's "think-in" in Westport, Co Mayo, in September. A decision on whether to reform the party's committee structures will then be made.
Dublin North West TD Pat Carey, who signed the letter calling for the establishment of the committee last week, said he believed Tuesday's 3½-hour meeting was "a very good one".
"Most of us included in the 16 who signed the letter were looking for a better and quicker way of getting our concerns listened to and converted into policy positions. I believe what the Taoiseach proposed will do that. He made very sensible suggestions, and he was very supportive of the idea.
"To a great extent the Taoiseach is putting it up to everybody; if you don't take part in this process you cannot complain that you weren't asked."
He rejected suggestions that the idea for a backbench committee was ill-conceived, and said the priority was to work towards "a set of distinct Fianna Fáil policies".
Sligo TD Dr Jimmy Devins, another of the signatories, said the Taoiseach's proposals had "fulfilled everything that was being looked for by the signatories".
"Whatever the form is doesn't matter. What was needed was a conduit where there could be an exchange of views between Ministers, Junior Ministers and backbench TDs and Senators."
He said he was hopeful that the consultation process would result in the establishment of new consultative structures within the party.
Speaking on RTÉ radio, Cork North Central TD Noel O'Flynn, who also signed the letter, welcomed the move.
He said it recognised concerns that some Ministers were not paying attention to issues raised by backbench TDs and Senators.