McDowell reaction: Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last night said he will make his intentions known regarding the leadership of the Progressive Democrats in the "relatively near future".
Describing Tánaiste Mary Harney's decision to resign as leader of the party yesterday as an "immense surprise", he said she had not discussed the matter with him before her announcement.
"What I and the rest of the party decided today is that we would all reflect on the situation. All of us were taken by surprise by this," he told The Irish Times at a function in Dublin's Guinness Storehouse last night.
"I'll consider the situation and make my intentions known in the relatively near future.
"What I said to my colleagues was that everybody in a situation like that would need to reflect on the situation. That's what I'm going to do."
He pointed out that nominations for the leadership would be closing shortly. "So it's a short-order decision that will have to be made one way or another, but a considered decision as well."
When asked if he would like to be leader of the party, he responded: "That's what I'm considering."
Mr McDowell said he had had no communication with Ms Harney regarding her decision to resign. His relationship with her was "cordial and supportive, as it always has been".
He added: "She made it very clear in her press conference that she had made this decision by herself. . .When I went into that room today, it was a major surprise."
He said that the "radical reform" that Ms Harney was introducing in the health system required "immense grit and determination and a capacity to stand up to vested interests.
"And she's done that. Of course she'll make enemies in doing that, and of course people will try to throw logs on the tracks to derail the process of reform. But she's been determined and she is determined to get on with it."