A defiant Simon Coveney has told hundreds of supporters at his Fine Gael leadership rally in Cork that he is going to finish what he started.
Arriving for the rally tonight, Mr Coveney said: "No second thoughts - that's not my style."
Earlier today, Mr Coveney cancelled a planned media event prompting speculation he may pull out of the leadership race.
However, he put an end to the speculation this afternoon when he tweeted that he was looking forward to the rally tonight.
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Speaking on the number of parliamentary party supporters that his rival Leo Varadkar has so far amassed, Mr Coveney told the crowds that this is an electorate of 21,000 and not 73.
Under Fine Gael's electoral college system, TDs, Senators and MEPs account for 65% of the vote to elect a party leader. Councillors account for 10% of the vote and party members around the country make up the remaining 25%.
Mr Coveney said every Fine Gael member will get a say in the outcome of the leadership bid.
Mr Coveney also told the audience in Cork: "This may not be Leo Street, but it's the capital..."
Mr Varadkar now has the support of 45 members of the parliamentary party which equates to 40% in the overall contest.
Mr Coveney has the pledged support of 20 members of the parliamentary party.
Under Fine Gael's electoral college system, TDs, Senators and MEPs account for 65% of the vote to elect a party leader.
Mr Coveney is adamant the contest is still at an early stage, but these figures suggest the housing minister needs to secure a significant margin of victory among councillors, who account for 10% of the vote, and among the party members, who make up the remaining 25%, if he is to keep his challenge alive.
