The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, has chosen to take no action against his frontbench TD, Mr John Deasy, despite unease among TDs at Mr Deasy's decision to disobey the party whip.
Though deputies who disobey the whip are usually sacked, Mr Kenny said the matter was closed after Mr Deasy apologised for the embarrassment caused when he voted with the Government on the Immigration Bill.
The party's spokesman repeatedly said that the matter was closed when asked whether Mr Kenny's response was adequate and whether his failure to sack Mr Deasy demonstrated an absence of leadership. However, senior party sources said Mr Deasy had been given a final warning to observe party policy.
Some members of the parliamentary party said privately that Mr Kenny should have sacked Mr Deasy as justice spokesman.
One senior TD said: "I think Kenny should have done the job yesterday. There has to be some law and order in the party. He can always come back to the front bench at a later time."
Mr Deasy voted with the Government on Wednesday despite being informed by Fine Gael chief whip, Mr Bernard Durkan, that Fine Gael was voting against the Bill because too little time had been provided to debate it.
Fine Gael supported the thrust of the legislation and Mr Deasy was angered that it was voting against it because the Government had guillotined the debate.
Mr Deasy said he had offered unconditional support to Mr Kenny when they met yesterday. "I regret how the events of occurred and have pledged to continue to work diligently with my Oireachtas colleagues in the interests of Fine Gael," he said.
The Fine Gael chief whip said he had reported to Mr Kenny on the circumstances of Mr Deasy's vote. He said he would reiterate the guidelines on voting procedures to TDs to ensure they were in full compliance.
Asked whether there was any point operating a whip if TDs could defy it without sanction, Mr Durkan said: "I can assure you that there will be no defiance of the whip."
Mr Deasy's relations with the party will be further strained today with the publication of an interview in Magill in which he criticises Fine Gael for failing to develop a clear political identity.
He told Magill: "We're too fond of seeing both sides of every argument. And, as a result, I don't think the electorate understands where Fine Gael is coming from."
Despite being furnished with quotes from the interview, Fine Gael's spokesman said he would not comment on an article he had not read.
Mr Deasy angered the party two months ago by calling for the restoration of the former leader, Mr Michael Noonan, to the front bench and criticising the performance of certain colleagues.
Senator Jim Higgins said "this has to be the last chance" for Mr Deasy. "He has already caused a considerable amount of embarrassment to the party and the leader."
The Sligo TD, Mr John Perry, said he agreed with Mr Kenny's decision not to sack Mr Deasy.
But, he added: "I think a clear marker has been put down with John Deasy. I'd say certainly that he has been given the benefit of the doubt."
