A Fine Gael TD has admitted that the party did not run 'the best campaign it could of' to abolish the Seanad. But Eoghan Murphy does not believe that the refusal by the Taoiseach to do a TV debate was a factor in the outcome.

Deputy Murphy says he thinks the biggest factor for a No vote was the fact that the Dáil has not yet been reformed.

He says the referendum could easily have passed if people were happy with the Dail as it currently exists. But he also believes that Seanad reform is in no real hurry.

Meanwhile the the Chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary Party said earlier that neither the Taoiseach nor the party are to blame for the government losing the referendum.

Charlie Flanagan was speaking to Breakfast here on Newstalk in the wake of a wave of criticism towards Enda Kenny over his refusal to take part in a debate on the issue. The Laois-Offaly TD has also claimed that any reform of the Seanad may slow down or overshadow Dáil reform.

A prominent Senator has meanwhile claimed that members of the Seanad are to blame for the lack of publicity given to their work. Welcoming the results of the referendum Fergal Quinn admitted that the public perception of the Upper House is not boosted by its Senators.

While Fine Gael has dismissed claims that the Taoiseach has been damaged by the defeat. The electorate voted by a margin of 52% to reject a proposal to abolish the Seanad.