Mayo TD Beverley Flynn has said it would be a great honour for her to hold a ministerial office, but she said that decision would be up to Brian Cowen as the next Taoiseach.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's News At One, Beverley Flynn said she considers herself to be quite close to Brian Cowen, despite the fact that he was the politician who originally proposed her expulsion from the Fianna Fáil party.
She said she felt their relationship was 100%, although as she has been out of the party in recent years, she had not had much opportunity to meet him.
But Beverley Flynn would not be drawn on whether she felt she stood a better chance of becoming a minister had Bertie Ahern remained as Taoiseach.
Ms Flynn went on to say that she was delighted to be returning to the Fianna Fáil party, which she described as her natural home.
She added that she had always been considered as a member of Fianna Fáil on the ground.
The Mayo TD said she was particularly happy that it was Bertie Ahern who had proposed her return at the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting last night.
However, she said the timing was purely coincidental and her return was something that could have happened weeks ago.
She said she had received a warm welcome back into the Fianna Fáil fold, and that no conditions had been attached to her return.
Earlier, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the time is now appropriate for Ms Flynn to return to the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.
Ms Flynn was readmitted last night by a unanimous vote of the party's National Executive.
