Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell has defended getting the party's lowest ever vote in a presidential election saying he believes people did not want a Taoiseach and President from the same party.
In an interview with RTÉ News, Mr Mitchell also said organisational and strategic issues contributed to the loss.
Asked if Enda Kenny had given him adequate support during the campaign, Mr Mitchell said he did not expect to see the Taoiseach out with him for months on end. He said Mr Kenny did accompany him on a number of occasions.
On his absence from the declaration at Dublin Castle yesterday, Mr Mitchell said he was there on Friday.
He said said he did his duty and yet people wanted to nitpick and said he congratulated Michael D Higgins and his wife personally.
Mr Mitchell said he was extremely tired and had behaved honourably throughout the campaign.
He said Fine Gael was entitled to ask other people to run. He said he got the nomination and that was it.
Meanwhile, Independent presidential candidate Mary Davis has said her non-attendance at Dublin Castle yesterday when Mr Higgins was formally declared the winner, was a genuine mistake.
Ms Davis said she would have attended if she had known this was expected of her.
