The Transport Minister has denied he told a former member of his party and other rebel TDs to tow the party line.
Lucinda Creighton says senior party figures - including Leo Varadkar - told them to keep their heads down in order to get back into the party.
Minister Varadkar says while a conversation took place between the pair he says it is not his style to tell people to keep quiet.
And he says he is disappointed by her assertions.
"You know the advice I gave her was as a friend to a friend, I thought it was in confidence" he said.
"It was a discussion we had the day she resigned and she's somebody who came up through the party with me, I want to see her do well and I still do".
"What I said to her from the point of view of party members and supporters - that they would admire her courage for standing by her convictions on abortion - and they would understand it" he added.
