Former minister Dr James Reilly has said his job as deputy leader of Fine Gael will be to help rebuild the party for the next general election.

Dr Reilly said such a job is best suited to someone who is not tied up in the day-to-day business of Government.

The former minister for health and minister for children was previously deputy leader of Fine Gael, but was stripped of that position by Taoiseach Enda Kenny following the general election, which saw Dr Reilly lose his Dáil seat in Dublin Fingal.

Mr Kenny subsequently appointed Dr Reilly to the Seanad as one of the Taoiseach’s 11 nominees and was this week reappointed as deputy leader of Fine Gael, in a move that caused surprise in the parliamentary party.

Amid criticism of Mr Kenny’s leadership, Dr Reilly told RTÉ’s Drivetime: “We have in Enda Kenny a man who can pick to the phone to the other leaders in Europe… someone we need at the helm.”