Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats Mary Harney said yesterday she did not have any doubt that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will contest the next general election.
At the opening of a new cancer treatment unit in Tallaght hospital, Ms Harney said she was "very confident" that Mr McDowell would be contesting the next election.
"Michael has indicated to me and to his colleagues that he will stand in the next election. I've no doubt about that," she told The Irish Times.
In recent days, this newspaper has reported that supporters of Mr McDowell threatened that he would not contest the forthcoming election unless Ms Harney had stepped aside as leader by then.
In response, Ms Harney's supporters are believed to have warned that he would be removed from the Cabinet if he made this decision. None of the threats were made directly by either Mr McDowell or Ms Harney.
However, Ms Harney did acknowledge yesterday that leadership and other issues are discussed within her party from time to time.
"It's not unique to the Progressive Democrats, it happens in every party. We made a decision on Tuesday. It was a unanimous decision of our parliamentary party, to go forward with a particular strategy," she told reporters.
"The challenge for me now, and for [ Michael McDowell] and others in the parliamentary party is to work together to implement that strategy. And that's what I think our members and our supporters want to see us do."
She and Mr McDowell had "two very busy ministries", with each focused on their portfolios, she claimed.
"I'm very focused on health reform to ensure that we get a better service for patients and I'm not going to be in any way taken away from that task. I want the focus to be on that task," she said.
"That is my main priority, notwithstanding my responsibilities as leader of the party.
"And Michael is very focused on reform in the area of justice . . . That remains our main focus."
Michael McDowell: short-term ambitions - 'do my job well and serve country'
Michael O'Regan
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell refused to say yesterday if he has long-term ambitions to lead the Progressive Democrats, as he attempted to defuse his row with Mary Harney. Asked if he could see himself being a candidate for the leadership after the next general election, when it automatically comes up for review under party rules, Mr McDowell said: "Everybody has to be elected first. Then we will see what happens."
He had only short-term ambitions: "They are to do my job well and serve the country."
Speaking to The Irish Times in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, where he opened the refurbished courthouse, the Minister again refused to comment on claims he has made within the PDs, that he had an arrangement with Ms Harney that she would step down as leader before the next election.
"I am not making any comment, on or off the record. It is an internal party matter. I have nothing to say, and I think that everybody in the party should follow my lead and say nothing."
Asked if the controversy had damaged the party, Mr McDowell said: "All controversies have their upside and downside. The upside is a bit of publicity."
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Justice Brian Lenihan, who was in Thurles opening a Garda vetting unit, said the PDs appeared to have resolved their issues. He predicted that Fianna Fáil and the PDs would continue to participate in government until the election in the summer of next year.
"It is very clear that the PDs are going in to the next election as part of the Government team. They have always maintained that as a small party they like to fight an election as an independent organisation. I can understand their thinking on that. But they have clearly aligned themselves with the Government, they are part of the Government, and they will continue working within the Government up to the date on which the Taoiseach has said he will call an election."