The Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil has said the party will review and evaluate the result of the Dublin Bay South by-election.
Micheál Martin was responding to a question about the potential for a motion of no confidence in his leadership of Fianna Fáil after the party's candidate, Deirdre Conroy, received just 5% of the share of first preference votes.
Labour's Ivana Bacik, who topped the poll after the first count, was deemed elected on the ninth and final count.
He said what he took from the election results was a reflection of voters' respect for and esteem in which they held Ms Bacik.
He said that he believed it was a personal victory for her given her commitment as a parliamentarian and as an activist and he said that he thinks that that was the fundamental issue at play in that by-election.
Asked how he would get "rebels" on board with his leadership, Mr Martin said that his focus as Taoiseach and the focus of the party has to be on the big issues facing the Irish people.
He said that the Irish people expect that.
Mr Martin said the Government has been remarkably focused in its first year and is making significant progress.
He said that that said he always works and engages with his colleagues, even those who might have different perspectives to him or who might criticise him.
The party leader said he will engage with all his colleagues in respect with the issues that concern them.
Mr Martin said he was open to the idea of an in-person meeting of the parliamentary party but that it would not happen this week.
He said he was heartened by feedback from the membership who supported the party going into Government.
Earlier, Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North James Lawless said he would not read too much into the results of any one by-election.
He told Today with Claire Byrne that it is not the time for a heave against Mr Martin, but added "that is not to say all is well".
Mr Lawless said the Government, Taoiseach and ministers are doing a good job but there is a disconnect with voters.
He said that he does not feel the party has adapted well to the digital age and failing to engage in the way most people are now.
Yesterday, the party's Director of Elections for the Dublin Bay South by-election Jim O'Callaghan ruled out a motion of no confidence in Mr Martin.
However, the Dublin Bay South TD said he supports party colleague Barry Cowen's call for a meeting to discuss the by-election results.
He asked: "The question we need to ask is 'why are we not connecting with the electorate'?"
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr O'Callaghan said he has not been approached by anyone to sign a motion of no confidence in Taoiseach Martin.
"That hasn't happened and I wouldn't," he said.
Mr O'Callaghan said it is unlikely that Mr Martin would be leading the party into another election if the Government runs to the end of its term in 2025.
He said he is interested in leading the party, but did not want to undermine the current leader.
Varadkar says nobody is 'entitled' to be on ticket
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader has said that nobody should think that they are entitled to be on a ticket to get a party nomination for an election.
Leo Vardakar was responding to questions from a journalist about the Fine Gael result in the Dublin Bay South by-election and weekend media reports that former TD Kate O'Connell will not be welcomed back as a candidate for Fine Gael in Dublin Bay South in the next election.
He said Kate O’Connell won a seat in the Dail in 2016 with huge support from the party at the time but unfortunately she wasn’t able to hold her seat in the 2020 election.
Mr Varadkar said Ms O’Connell chose not to put her name forward for the selection convention for the by-election and anyone who is or isn’t a party member could have done so.
"I’ve been elected four times now to the Dail and once to the council and I had to go through a selection convention too and I still do and I am the party leader," he said.
"Nobody should think that they are entitled to be on a ticket to get a nomination - everybody in our party has to go before our party members and make their case and that would apply to everyone."
He said he thinks the analysis at the outset that the by-election was in some way Fine Gael’s to lose was always a flawed one.
He said the party had put up a good fight and fought a good campaign, and the result was a good one for a first time candidate.
