Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he does not have "buckets of charisma" but claimed this was just one of a number of personality traits required by a leader of a political party.
In an interview on Today FM radio yesterday, Mr Kenny also said that, if elected as taoiseach, he would sack ministers who failed to perform.
Mr Kenny made his comments to radio DJ Ray D'Arcy, who before Christmas claimed that Mr Kenny had the "anaemic, sort of insipid look" of a boiled potato that had been in a fridge for a number of days.
Yesterday Mr Kenny told D'Arcy he took no offence whatsoever at his remarks.
"Charisma is a very sort of difficult thing to sort of articulate and define," Mr Kenny said. "It goes with certain personalities and certain people.
"I wouldn't say I have buckets of charisma to dish around, but I started from a very low base having been elected leader of the Fine Gael party and I understand the scale of the challenge that's up ahead. And you won't do that by charisma alone. Obviously it does require strong personality and a lot of energy."
During the interview Mr Kenny denied that Fine Gael had no alternative policies. He said the party had an election pact with Labour, and the parties were committed to producing an agreed election agenda.
Asked when this would be produced, he refused to give a date.
"We'll produce it when we think it's right. It's 15 months from an election," he said.
He acknowledged that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had become a celebrity and was in demand for various openings in his own right. However, he criticised him for officiating at the opening of pubs.
"I don't open public houses myself. I think it gives a wrong impression of politics and drink and all that sort of culture. But remember the man has been Taoiseach for 10 years. I think it's too long. The people will judge in due course."
He said he believed key problems such as the health service were not insurmountable.
He said he would have got rid of Martin Cullen as a minister "for his behaviour over the electronic voting and for his failure to completely deal with road deaths and road accidents around the country".