Fianna Fáil TD Ned O'Keeffe, who went missing from Dáil votes last week, will be back in the party fold when the business of the House resumes today, the Government chief whip Tom Kitt forecast last night.
Mr Kitt said the Cork East TD had contacted him yesterday and that they had had a lengthy discussion.
Mr Kitt said the discussion was confidential but he was happy that the matter had now been sorted out.
"He assured me that there was no malice behind his absence from the Dáil. Following our discussion I am satisfied the matter is behind us and that Ned O'Keeffe will be in the Dáil this week."
Mr O'Keeffe last week was unaccountably absent from the vote on the motion of confidence in the Taoiseach which the Government won by only five votes, despite its majority of 13.
The following day he missed the vote on the Aer Lingus services from Shannon where the Government's majority shrank to just one vote.