Former Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen says his sacking was 'a hard price to pay' and that he is seeking rectification.
The Fianna Fail TD lost his job in Cabinet on Tuesday night following the fallout from a 2016 drink-driving charge, and his refusal to answer questions in the Dail on the matter.
Mr Cowen apologised for the "stupid, stupid mistake" of consuming two drinks before attending the All Ireland Football Final in Dublin in 2016.
While driving home to Offaly, he was stopped and breathalysed and after being found to be over the legal alcohol limit, he was given a €200 fine and a three-month driving ban.
He held a learner drivers' permit at the time as his previous provisional licence had lapsed.
Mr Cowen said today that he has not spoken to Taoiseach Micheál Martin since he was relieved of his duties.
Speaking to Midlands 103, the ex-Minister thanked people for their support at what is "a very difficult time" but said he was not a victim and his sacking was "the consequence of an unfortunate mistake" that he had "paid a dear price for".
"Ultimately, it's a hard price to pay for such an event.
"I'm a public representative, you put yourself out there, you have to accept and appreciate the way in which you're held to account and that's right and proper."
Mr Cowen added that neither himself nor Mr Martin are bigger than the party.
He said: "This party has come through bigger events than this, this party has been good to me, good to my community, good to my country, and it's bigger than me and it's bigger than Micheál Martin or anyone else.
"Politics can, of course, be a cruel game but you pick yourself up and you dust yourself down. You have to show leadership, you have to show resilience.
"The blow I've had, as difficult as it is, it's miniature to many of the difficulties other people have.
"I'll come again, Fianna Fáil will come again, and we'll do our best and we'll abide by the wishes of the people which is ultimately what the democratic process is all about.
"We have our health, it's our wealth, and we'll get over these obstacles, we'll get over these setbacks and we'll put things into perspective and be thankful for what we have.
"I had a good job before I became a minister, I still have a good job after being a minister, and who knows, I might be again.
An investigation into the possible leaking of information about Mr Cowen's drink-driving ban was launched by GSOC after he raised a complaint over the Garda record dealing with the incident.
Mr Cowen said he was hoping for "rectification" of the record.
He said: "I think there is the potential for me to seek rectification of this issue and there are processes I've engaged in that I can't comment on a whole lot more only to say that there are processes, there is legislation in place that offers citizens opportunities to seek such rectification.
"I'm engaging in that and I could engage in a process in the daily that would undermine or prejudice those opportunities.
He added: "I had aspirations to move in that direction the Taoiseach felt otherwise and that's where we differed and ultimately we couldn't stay on the same team."
