Fianna Fáil Ministers: Two Fianna Fáil Ministers yesterday expressed confidence that the Progressive Democrats leadership contest would not destabilise the Government.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said the "personal chemistry" between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste had created a "template" for a successful government that was strong enough to continue.
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan acknowledged that the leadership change in the PDs could lead to a Cabinet reshuffle but she rejected the suggestion that the matter had led to instability in the Government.
Speaking to journalists at the ASA conference in Sligo, Ms Coughlan said she had found Ms Harney very supportive in the 20 years she had worked with her.
"I wish her well in her decision she has made and very much admire the fact as a woman politician she was the first woman ever to be elected as the leader of a political party in this country," she said.
"It is very important to say and reiterate what the Taoiseach said that we have a programme for government and it's with the PDs and there is no party change in that programme for government," Ms Coughlan said.
In her view, the PD leadership contest "does not provide any instability to the Cabinet or the Government and we will continue dealing with the issues preparing the national development plan and the budget.
"In the Programme for Government there are two Ministers from the Progressive Democrats and it is a matter for the leader of the PDs who those two ministers are. Certainly, if there is a reshuffle, there is a reshuffle; if there is not, there is not. That is politics. That's life. You have to get on with it," she said.
Speaking in Galway yesterday, Mr Martin described Ms Harney as having made an "outstanding" and "very fine" contribution to the success of modern Ireland.
Mr Martin ruled out an early general election as a result of Ms Harney's resignation as leader of the PDs but said that the "jury is out" on the impact a new leader would have on the Government.
"If you look back at the 1987 government, that broke up with a fair degree of acrimony because of the tension between two parties," he said. "Mary Harney and Bertie Ahern - because of their personal chemistry - have laid down a template now on how a coalition government should be done, and I think the practices and methods that they have employed . . . it would be very wise for those to continue.
"I think most of us in both parties would have seen that rapport and I think we'd both be anxious to see it continue," he remarked.
Mr Martin said he could see himself "working with any member of the PDs".