Simon Harris said Fine Gael is not concerned about a Left coalition forming to take the Government parties on at the next General Election.
The Tanáiste told RTÉ One while Catherine Connolly had “clearly won” and will be “the president for Ireland and for everyone,” he was not anxious about the next General Election.
“I don’t want to take from their day (The Left), they won the Presidential Election,” Mr Harris said.
“I wish them well with their victory.“
Minister Harris added: “When you get to a General Election it’s very different. Are the Labour Party going to ask people to vote for Mary Lou McDonald? It’s quite a leap.”
Minister Harris pointed to Enda Kenny being Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach when Left candidate Michael D Higgins, was the victor in the presidential election.
He said the main concern for Government now was those who hadn’t turned out to vote – a suspected around 40pc – and those who had spoiled their votes – around 10pc.
“Thats what I’m most concerned about,” he said. “There is clearly a winner, no doubt, but I’m most concerned about the number of people who feel disaffected by politics, they didn’t come out and vote.
“It looks like potentially you could see 40pc of the electorate not voting and 10pc putting in a bit of thought into what they put on the paper to spoil their vote
“I want to get under the bonnet (to find out) what is making people feel disaffected by politics.”
He added that consideration across parties would be given to candidates entering the race.
And he denied Fine Gael had run a negative campaign.
“I want to thank Heather Humphreys, she’s a great colleague and friend,” he said. “Hundreds of people came out across the country. She carried herself with grace and dignity.”
A two-candidate race was always “going to be difficult” he added.
But she had been a success with gaining more backing from the public than Fine Gael had in recent elections, he added.
He added that he had “no regrets,” and that Fine Gael are “a party under renewal, under my leadership.”
Laura Lynott