The Galway West TD, Frank Fahey, has said he is disappointed he was not re-appointed as a junior minister in the new Government.
However, he accepts that the Taoiseach wanted to make way for new people.
Mr Fahey had served in a ministerial capacity for 15 years.
He said he did not believe charges levelled against him by the former Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent, regarding business interests were a factor in his demotion.
Mr Fahey said he had been cleared by the Standards in Public Office Commission of all the charges that were made against him.
