The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has stopped short of denying reports that the former minister for transport, Mr Brennan, threatened to resign his Dáil seat if he was demoted in last week's Cabinet reshuffle.
While Mr Brennan has said he did not threaten resignation at any time, Mr Ahern neither confirmed nor denied reports in two Sunday newspapers that Mr Brennan said he would stand down from the Dáil if he was not reappointed to the Cabinet.
"I only read a bit of the stuff. It is always a bit of fun reading things when you know the third party wasn't there," Mr Ahern said.
"I am not going to say anything about the rights or wrongs of it, but I wouldn't be giving out too many marks for the speculation.
"The reshuffle is over. There was lots of speculation before it. There will be lots of speculation after it. I'm sure that it will get a few lines in the history books, but that's it as far as I am concerned."
While Mr Brennan regards his move to social and family affairs as a clear demotion, Mr Ahern said "everybody is equal in Cabinet" when asked about the minister's removal from the transport portfolio. "Everyone has a role to play," he said.
The Taoiseach refused to enter any further discussions about the matter when questioned yesterday by reporters. "Finished. I make those decisions. Next story," he said.
In a separate development, Mr Ahern will this morning meet Ministers of State in an attempt to encourage greater "integration" between junior ministers and their senior colleagues. The meeting will take place in advance of tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, the first full meeting since the reshuffle.
The Taoiseach is understood to regard some of the junior ministers to be "anonymous" and he is keen to encourage greater visibility for their work. While certain senior ministers are known to dominate their departments, Mr Ahern will be asking for greater co-operation between ministers at all levels.
