Enda Kenny has moved to heal divisions within his party by appointing two prominent critics of his leadership to his junior front bench team.
Dublin South West TD Brian Hayes and Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Denis Naughten both lost their front bench positions following an unsuccessful heave against Mr Kenny earlier this year.
However, Mr Hayes and Mr Naughten were this evening included the party’s deputy front bench line-up which Mr Kenny described “another important step in the strengthening” of Fine Gael’s team in the Dáil.
Mr Hayes is to take up a post as the party's deputy finance spokesperson while Mr Naughten has been given a junior health portfolio, covering primary care and disability.
Mr Kenny said: “The colleagues appointed today will, working closely with our front bench, deputies and Seanad spokespersons, have a key role in the completion and communication of Fine Gael’s policy platform for the next general election".
Earlier Fine Gael spokesman on justice Alan Shatter defended Mr Kenny following weekend newspaper speculation over a potential second heave against Mr Kenny's leadership.
Mr Shatter said Fine Gael had already dealt with the leadership issue.
"Enda Kenny is the leader of our party, there's no question of a change in leadership. He is a guy who has shown backbone, courage and determination. He goes about his business in a quiet and determined way - he doesn't stand on soap boxes," Mr Shatter said.
"He is the individual . . . all of us in the parliamentary party believe will make an excellent Taoiseach."
The Fine Gael frontbencher told RTÉ's Morning Ireland the Sunday papers were "engaged in fiction," adding: "I think people get their politics framed through what they read in the newspapers".
"I find it extraordinary quite honestly that at a time when the bank bailout is going to cost €50 billion . . . this is an issue that apparently had priority in the Sunday newspapers and indeed on this programme," Mr Shatter said.
He accused RTÉ of surrendering its editorial independence to the Sunday papers, "who ran stories that have no substance of any description," and said the media found it "far more entertaining" to talk about superficial issues.
"The issue is: Is this the distraction that some people want to run to take the focus of the most incompetent, disastrous government we have had in the history of this State?"
This view was echoed by colleague Bernard Durkan, Kildare North TD. "This is the most crucial time in the history of our State. I don't understand why unnamed people or the media speculation should surround the Opposition," he said.
Mr Durkan said it "didn't make any difference" that the latest opinion polls were showing Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael running neck and neck. "The reality is this: Neither of the Opposition parties are in any way to blame for the problems that now exist, and it is rather obtuse that we should see a situation whereby a suggestion is made that the Opposition are in someway weak or incapable."
Cork South Central TD Deirdre Clune said there was no need for any kneejerk reaction to any one poll, but she added the next few months were going to be "very important" for Fine Gael. "It's an opportunity for us to display our competence and how we would put forward an alternative budget.
"I don't think the issue is about any one individual, it's about Fine Gael themselves," adding it was time for the party and the leadership to examine why they were not doing so well with the electorate.
Fellow Cork TD Bernard Allen said he would be "very reluctant" to respond to a story that did not have sources quoted, adding "I do not like dealing with shadows. If people have an issue, they should be brave enough to put their names to their argument. I believe that the story that appeared in some papers lacked credibility."
Asked if he would like to see Mr Kenny stay on as leader, Mr Allen said the party had made a decision and it was his belief it would be wise to stick with that decision.
According to RTÉ, 19 TDs were contacted for comment about their party leader, but most did not get back to the broadcaster.
However, there is little enthusiasm for a direct challenge to his leadership following last June's unsuccessful attempt to replace him with Richard Bruton.
Mr Kenny has insisted, in a number of of interviews, that he does not intend relinquishing the leadership in any circumstances.