The Fianna Fáil backbencher, Mr Ned O'Keeffe, has firmly backed the leadership of the Taoiseach and called for the full implementation of the Hanly report on the health services.
Mr Ahern has been under pressure from sections of his parliamentary party over poor poll ratings and the proposals for the downgrading of hospitals contained in the report.
Mr O'Keeffe, a former minister of state for agriculture, who represents Cork east, told The Irish Times yesterday: "I have no difficulty with Mr Ahern's leadership, as Taoiseach and president of the party, and never had. I fully support the Hanly proposals.
"I believe it is time to address the problems in the health services. The taxpayer is not getting value for money."
Mr O'Keeffe denied there was a secret meeting in Cork last Saturday week to undermine Mr Ahern's authority. Referring to a report in the Sunday Independent, Mr O'Keeffe said: "There was no such meeting. There was a meeting on that day of a party sub-committee on the local elections to interview potential candidates in Munster. The attendance included John Mullan, from party headquarters, and my colleague, Billy Kelleher TD.
"There was no discussion of any kind on the leadership. When the meeting concluded, Mr Kelleher and myself left to do constituency work and attend funerals."
Mr O'Keeffe dismissed suggestions that Mr Ahern's leadership could come under threat if Fianna Fáil does badly in next summer's European and local elections.
"The best result we had in the local elections was under Mr Ahern in 1999. I believe we will go as close to maintaining that result next summer. But we have to find good candidates, because many of the big names are gone with the end of the dual mandate."
Mr O'Keeffe repeated his view that Ministers have not made an impact. "Any difficulties which exist do not rest with Mr Ahern but with his Ministers and Ministers of State."
