Ms Mary Harney and Ms Mary O'Rourke have dismissed suggestions that there is tension between them over which of them would become Tanaiste in a Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat government.
A spokesman for Ms Harney said yesterday her view was that the issue of who got what job in the next government was not important. "What matters is what is in the programme for government."
Ms O'Rourke said on RTE radio the matter would be one for the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, to decide should he become the next Taoiseach.