The Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary Party has said that neither the Taoiseach nor the party are to blame for the government losing the referendum to abolish the Seanad.
Charlie Flanagan was speaking in the wake of a wave of criticism towards Enda Kenny over his refusal to take part in a debate on the issue.
The Laois-Offaly TD has also claimed that any reform of the Seanad may slow down or overshadow Dáil reform.
"This has been a set back fro Fine Gael, it's a set back for the programme of political reform but it shouldn't stop" he said.
"My major concern at this stage is that if we have all the focus on on a reformed Seanad, that this might in fact eclipse reform of the Dail, and that's where I think the major programme of work must be undertaken in terms of changing the way we do our business within the Dail chamber; making the government more accountable, making the Dail more relevant" he added.
