The Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting has ended after several hours of discussing the John McNulty affair.

The Taoiseach and his Finance Minister urged TDs and Senators to move on, but there was some criticism from members of the way Enda Kenny had handled the saga for the past week.

Mr Kenny again apologised to them for the way the nomination of Mr McNulty to the Seanad and his appointment to the board of the Modern Art Museum had been handled.

At the end of the meeting he told those present that he was 'no Charlie Haughey', and with him there were no brown envelopes, nor was there shifty behaviour in the corridors of Leinster House.

But many felt that the most passionate contribution came from the Finance Minister Michael Noonan - the man they always bring out in a crisis.

Minister Noonan told the TDs and Senators that if they wanted to kill themselves then they should keep talking about this issue. But he said if they wanted a second term in Government then they needed to move back to talking about the economy and the budget.

The Finance Minister says their message needs to be about "a new Ireland" of a rising economy, more people at work, and the exchequer figures.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys - who became embroiled in the controversy - addressed the gathering, repeating her assertion that she appointed John McNulty to the board of IMMA on his merits.

Some present said much of her contribution came from a prepared script and that she did not agree to a suggestion that she needed to answer questions about the controversy in public.

There was lots of talk after the meeting that Fine Gael were again a family united - but if they are the leadership and the so-called rebels did not put on any display of such unity.

Our Political Correspondent, Páraic Gallagher reports from Leinster House.